2022 Château de la Crée Santenay Premier Cru Gravières Blanc

The history of Château de la Crée and its location in Santenay

Château de la Crée was founded in 1431 by Nicolas Rolin, Chancellor of the Duke of Burgundy. Today it is part of Evenstad Estates, led by the American couple Grace and Ken Evenstad. Since 2015, both red and white Burgundies have been produced here with respect for tradition and terroir. The estate is located in the village of Santenay, in the southernmost part of the Côte de Beaune, where the climate is ideal for the ripening of both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Terroir and climate of Santenay Premier Cru Gravières

The Premier Cru Gravières is located on slopes reaching an altitude of 500 metres and is composed of grey limestone in the upper parts, oolitic limestone and marl in the lower zones (up to 300 metres). The south-east orientation guarantees maximum sunlight from the morning, which contributes to an even ripening. The soil structure – a mix of rock, sand and marl – ensures good drainage and minerality in the wine. The climate in 2022 was warm and dry, with an early harvest on 29 August, after a growing season without frost and with sufficient sunshine.

Grape variety, harvest, fermentation and maturation of this white Burgundy

The wine is made from 100% Chardonnay, from 12-year-old vines on a plot of 1.62 hectares at an altitude of 240 metres. The manual harvest took place on 29 August 2022. After fermentation, it was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, 25% of which were new. This approach guarantees a precise and expressive style, where the use of wood supports the structure without dominating the fruit. Platinum and 97/100 points awarded by Decanter

Color, aroma and taste of the 2022 Gravières Blanc

The wine shows itself bright golden yellow in the glass. In the nose, aromas of citrus dominate, followed by peach and white stone fruit. In the mouth, the wine is tight and mineral, with a nice tension between ripe fruit and lively acids. The texture is refined, the flavor line straight and pure. The finish is long, with a salty, juicy finish that is reminiscent of chalky soils. This is a wine with aging potential and gastronomic allure.

Would you like to order wines from Château de la Crée online?

The wines of Château de la Crée, including this Santenay Premier Cru Gravières Blanc 2022, are stored in our conditioned Wine Warehouse. When picking up, you will often receive an attractive discount, which will automatically become visible when you choose 'Pick up' on the checkout page. Our location is in Dordrecht, almost directly on the A16, with ample parking. Click here for our address .

The full reviews from international wine journalists such as Parker, Suckling and Vinous can be found via the links next to the image on our website. This service is available free of charge to customers of Grandcruwijnen.

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Wine and food pairings with the 2022 Gravières Blanc

• Baked sea bass with lemon butter and dill : The fresh acidity and citrus aromas of the wine enhance the delicate fish structure and bring balance.
• Risotto with fennel, lemon zest and Parmesan : The aniseed note of fennel and the creamy mouthfeel match the refined texture of the wine.
• Roasted chicken with tarragon and garlic : The full flavour of the chicken is refined by the freshness and light spiciness of the wine.
• Oysters with a drop of lime : The minerality of the wine and the saltiness of the oysters enhance each other beautifully.
• Roasted pumpkin, goat cheese and hazelnut salad : The combination of earthy, creamy and nutty notes goes perfectly with the rich, yet fresh profile of the Chardonnay.
• Turbot with yuzu and shallot beurre blanc : The elegant structure of the wine is taken to a higher level by the intense flavour and acidity of this dish.
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ABOUT SANTENAY

Santenay is located just south of Chassagne Montrachet and is the southernmost village of Burgundy's famous "Cote D'or" ("Golden Coast") region. The etymology of Santenay is most likely linked to the word "Sanctus", which refers to a sacred place before the Christian era. The appellation, with a total of 140 ha of vines, consists of three areas, one next to Chassagne, one around the village and one just south of the village. It is now mainly a Pinot Noir appellation, but the Chardonnay reveals great potential there.

ABOUT CHATEAU DE LA CRÉE

The venerable Château de la Crée estate in Santenay, Burgundy, dates back to the 15th century, when it was owned by Nicolas Rolin, Chancellor to Philip the Good and founder of the Hospices de Beaune. Today, the Château’s vineyards encompass seven rare Premier Cru blocks nestled entirely along the famed Côte d’Or escarpment, home to some of the world’s most legendary Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. Ken and Grace Evenstad, founders and owners of Domaine Serene Winery, brought their passion for great Pinot Noir and Chardonnay full circle when they purchased the revered Burgundy estate Château de la Crée in April 2015. Since their first vintage in 1990, The Evenstads have produced world-class, award-winning wines. Recently, the Domaine Serene 2010 Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir and the 2014 Evenstad Reserve Chardonnay were named in the top 3 Wines of the World by Wine Spectator Magazine. such high regard by the publication. In addition, in 2016 Domaine Serene was awarded the World's Best Pinot Noir for their Winery Hill Pinot Noir, winning Platinum Best in Show at the Decanter World Wine Awards. Through their relentless pursuit of quality and innovation, the Evenstads have gained worldwide recognition as an iconic producer of world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. They apply that knowledge and experience to elevate the wines of the Santenay region to the next level........ Read more under the Tab: Winery