Sorine is one of the oldest names in Santenay, with documented presence dating back to Gallo-Roman times. They even have a historic windmill and a street bearing their name. Christian is the 3rd generation, having taken the reins in 1990, his wife Emma joining in 2009, bringing technical expertise… In January this year, we met the 4th generation Paul, who joined his mum and dad in 2018 after a bit of travelling in other wine regions of the world, and is starting to make his mark in the winery.
While not certified organic, they are intent on minimising their impact on the environment and their vineyards as much as possible. I find that their wines have a certain youthful exuberance and energy about them. They’re so much fun to drink, immediately pleasing, without taking anything away from their depth and complexity. They’re also great value in comparison to more famous appellations.
The Aligoté should not be ignored; it’s a brilliant wine: zippy, electric, bursting with citrus. It’s the perfect segue for those used to Sauvignon Blanc or Albarino into the world of Burgundy. The Santenay Blanc for me, over-delivers for the price, really showing the care in tending to those special parcels of vines. It’s sunny, rocky, almondy, long and intense.
Their Bourgogne Pinot Noiris a reminder that it is still possible to get that sort of quality for under £25 (though you need to get on it now). Of course, the 1er Cru Beaurepaire is taking it up a few notches for sure as it comes from some of the oldest vines of the appellation and shows character and structure. The Chassagne, on the other hand, plays to its softer, more refined attributes.
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