2023 Joseph Colin Saint-Aubin Premier Cru Pitangeret

Joseph Colin and the winemaking family from the Côte de Beaune

Joseph Colin belongs to one of Burgundy's most renowned winemaking families. His father, Marc Colin, put Saint-Aubin on the map for decades with terroir-driven wines from top climats. His brother, Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey, is an international benchmark for taut, mineral Chardonnay. Joseph established his own estate in 2016 and has since worked with a crystal-clear signature: minimal intervention, refined oak use, a focus on tension, and a pure expression of the plot. This philosophy is clearly evident in the 2023 Saint-Aubin Premier Cru Pitangeret .

the terroir of saint-aubin premier cru pitangeret

Pitangeret is a premier cru in Saint-Aubin with chalky, stony soils and a relatively cool exposure. The thin, well-draining topsoil forces the roots to penetrate deeper, giving the wine a distinct chalky minerality and fine grip. Its location between the Puligny and Chassagne hills ensures ventilation and even ripening. Chardonnay from this climat typically displays citrus-driven precision, white stone fruit, floral nuances, and a salty-mineral finish. It is a terroir that perfectly suits Joseph's style: energetic, straightforward, and precise.

2023 vintage in the Côte de Beaune

The 2023 growing season got off to an early start, followed by a sunny summer with timely cooling. For Chardonnay, this resulted in grapes with healthy acidity, ripe fruit, and crystal-clear aromas. In Saint-Aubin, this translated into wines with immediate charm and a strong backbone. Pitangeret 2023 offers precisely that balance: abundant freshness, clear structure, and sufficient depth to allow for several more years of development.

vineyard management and harvest selection

Joseph works plot by plot, tailoring the foliage to the season. Pruning, selective defoliation, and a possible green harvest are only applied when the season demands it. Harvesting is done by hand in the cool morning hours to preserve the aromatic freshness. Bunches are rigorously sorted; only unblemished, ripe fruit reaches the press. This precision produces crystal-clear must with tension and precision, essential for a premier cru without excess.

vinification and maturation with a focus on precision

After a gentle, slow pressing, the must ferments spontaneously with indigenous yeasts. The temperature remains cool to preserve the floral and citrus-driven profile, without thinning the texture. Maturation takes place in predominantly used French oak barrels, with a small portion of young wood for added layering. Batonnage is used sparingly and only when it benefits the balance. After approximately 10 to 14 months of barrel aging, blending follows and a short rest in cuve. The goal is a wine with depth and length, without dominant oak notes or heavy roundness. In 2023, this results in a satiny core with a tight, salty-mineral finish.

tasting note saint-aubin 1er cru pitangeret 2023

Pale gold with green highlights. The nose opens tight and chalky with flint, lemon zest, and white blossom. Pear, almond paste, and a cool spiciness follow with air. The attack is zesty and lively. The mid-palate is finely nuanced with lemon cream, yellow apple, and a touch of barrel-aged hazelnut. Fine-grained bitters provide grip without harshness. The finish is long, dry, and slightly pithy, with salty-mineral notes that refresh the palate. An elegant, straightforward Premier Cru that combines precision and charm.

serving advice and storage potential

Serve at 10 to 12°C in a large white wine glass. Young, the wine is crisp and focused. With 3 to 6 years of bottle aging, it gains depth, creaminess, and nutty nuances. The recommended drinking window runs from now until around 2032, with an ideal period around 2026 to 2029. Decanting is not necessary; a few minutes of air in the glass is enough to open up the flinty notes.

place within the wines of joseph colin

Within the estate, Pitangeret represents a sleek, mineral-driven style with considerable length. Compared to cuvées from Chassagne, it appears tighter and more precise, while being less austere than the most linear Puligny styles. Within Saint-Aubin, this premier cru clearly stands out from generic wines thanks to its structure, layering, and gastronomic flexibility. For connoisseurs seeking excitement and finesse without excessive oak, this is a particularly compelling choice.

wine and food pairings

Choose dishes with pure flavors and fine textures so that minerality and freshness come into their own:

• Scallops with beurre blanc and chives. The saltiness and citrus energy complement the satiny core beautifully.
• Baked sea bass with fennel and lemon. The fresh acidity enhances the juicy flesh and anise-like spiciness.
• Supreme chicken with tarragon and a light cream sauce. The subtle bitterness provides a pleasant tang alongside the creamy sauce.
• Green asparagus and Parmesan risotto. The creaminess and chalky minerality are elegantly balanced.
• Clam pasta with parsley and garlic. The salty, minerally finish enhances the shellfish and keeps the dish light.
• Goat cheese with walnut and honey on toast. The almondy notes in the wine harmonize with the nutty accent.

Would you like to order Joseph Colin wines online?

If available, you'll find the official fact sheet and additional information about this fine wine in the "Attachments" tab. We'll automatically send you these when you order this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount. You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pick up" at the checkout page. We're located in Dordrecht, just off the A16 motorway with ample parking. Click here for our address. You can read full wine reviews from publications like Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator.

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