Tasting Notes
The story
This beautiful burgundy has been
a favourite of mine for several years and the 2011 vintage proved a very popular White Burgundy with Wines With Attitude
® customers. The Saint Véran appellation is on the southern edge of the Mâconnais area of southern Burgundy and many, though not all, of its wines age well; this is one that does. Domaine Thibert, run by brother and sister, Christophe and Sandrine Thibert, practises
organic viticulture and minimum intervention preferring to let the "terroir" and the oak ageing show through in its wines.
Read more about Domaine Thibert in my featured winery blog.
Saint Véran Champ Rond is one of the Maconnais sites that will become a Premier Cru Burgundy though the date has not yet been finalised.
The wine
This is everything you would expect from a great white burgundy; it is lovely and fresh with citrus, quince, almonds and honey on the nose plus that hint of flinty character referred to by JancisRobinson.com. It is medium-bodied with a lovely creamy texture and buttery but crisp long finish. There are concentrated flavours of citrus fruits, almond, butter and honey. Every time I try this wine, I can't help but utter an appreciative "mmm".
If served too cold, you will miss all the beautiful flavours. Be careful pouring the last few drops as sometimes there may be a deposit which is harmless and a natural consequence of minimum or no filtration, ensuring, in Domaine Thibert's words, "full aromatic expression and richness of flavour."
Food Pairing
Recommended for drinking with fish, seafood including scallops, foie gras, roast chicken, ham, pork, veal, creamy sauces, parmesan cheese, mushrooms, truffle. Generally it is not so good with other cheeses, tomato-based sauces, Chinese food, Thai food and, though it has the body to stand up to many of them, curries.
Producer's Notes
"The Champs Ronds terroir is located in the village of Leynes. The plot is on a plateau with a slight slope with a gradient of about 5%, which allows for better drainage, giving the grapes more concentrated aromas. Average altitude: 307m.
Soils: mainly gryphee limestone (Sinemuran) of variable depths, gravelly, with the rest being limestone or Rethian sandstone.
Tasting: Intense bouquet, delicate, charming, with notes of citrus and flowers. The wine has all the typical opulence and elegance of a Saint-Véran, with a back taste of fresh citrus and fine minerality.
Vinification and ageing: 18 to 22 months, in barrels for 11 months and then in stainless steel vats with little or no filtration when bottled."
Awards
16.5 points JancisRobinson.com Jan 2017
"Some sparky reductive character here, giving flint and matchstick aromas. Green apple fruit, mealy and chalky – lots of flavour here, and especially GV (good value) when compared with most Côte d’Or 2015s."
