Domaine Roger Belland Santenay Premier Cru Les Gravieres 2023

Drink it now or cellar for up to 15 years. No need to decant, but best to open it half an hour before service. Located in Santenay, Domaine Roger Belland is a large estate covering some 24 hectares, including several Premier Crus and a Grand Crus. Roger Belland, joined by his daughter Julie since 2003, manages the winery, which produces an excellent range of high-quality wines with great aging potential. The Pinot Noir grapes are selected and harvested from a plot in Les Gravires, one of the most prestigious crus of the Santenay appellation. Here the vines, planted in the late 60s, enjoy excellent exposure and predominantly rocky clay-limestone soil. After traditional vinification, the finished wine rests in French oak barrels (30% new) for a year. Santenay Premier Cru Les Gravieres is a generous and rich wine, capable of aging elegantly for over a decade. In the glass, it reveals a bright ruby color. Its aromatic profile is broad and elegant with notes of red and black fruits, violets, and sweet spices, with a touch of minerality in the background. On the palate, it is well structured, dry, and concentrated with firm but well-integrated tannins and a subtle refreshing acidity. The finish is long and persistent. Try it with a beef and mushroom pie or a beef Bourguignon.