Back to Bourgogne with Louis Jadot Santenay “Clos de Malte” 2018

When I was in college, I spent a summer in Paris as an exchange student. Living with a vibrant French family above their jewelry store continues to be one of my most loved memories. Day in and day out, I practiced “joie de vivre” and thoroughly embraced the French lifestyle of food, wine and culture. It’s no wonder that my love for France includes the country’s wines – it’s where my wine journey began. Whether I’m sipping Champagne, a brilliant glass of rose from Provence, a rich Cab Franc from Chinon, a Left Bank Bordeaux, a flavorful Chateauneuf-du-Pape or [fill in the blank], my mind and palate transport me to this beautiful country.

Lest you think that my wallet has been stretched through the years because of my penchant for French wine, you might be correct. However, I’ve been diligent about finding quality French wines at a reasonable price – they do exist! This month, the #Winophiles group of French wine lovers have uncovered affordable wines from Burgundy (Bourgogne in French) and we’re ready to bust the notion that the cost of wines from this iconic region are “through the roof!” (Find my colleagues’ articles at the end of mine, click on the links and comment if you’d like.)

A small region in east-central France, Bourgogne is about 230km from the north to the south. Fewer than 30K hectares are under vine and account for barely 4% of all French AOCs. Across Bourgogne, there are 84 flagship appellations, most of which enjoy an international reputation. There are five winegrowing areas: Chablis & Auxerrois, Côte de Nuits & Hautes-Côtes de Nuits, Côte de Beaune & Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, Côte Chalonnaise & Couchois and Maconnais. Many think that most wines produced in Bourgogne are Pinot Noir. Yet, they’re only 29% of the total. White wines of Chardonnay and to some extent Aligoté, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Blanc comprise the majority – at 60%. A sparkling wine, Crémant de Bourgogne, has been reaping more accolades and the style makes up 11% of the production. For more about Bourgogne, read my article “Kick Start Your Trip to Bourgogne with a Quick Primer to the Essentials” here.

 

In November 2021, I spent a week in Bourgogne visiting and learning more about many of its appellations, tasting a range of wines from grand chateaux to those from small family wineries and pairing wines in an array of price points with regional foods. Each person I met was proud of their heritage and the wines produced.

Are you ready to find a beautiful Chardonnay or Pinot Noir from Bourgogne, but not willing to pay an exhorbitant price? Same! The key to finding wines that fit our budget is to identify and research different appellations and quality producers who offer affordable wines within their portfolio. And I found a beauty!

The House of Louis Jadot (yes, most of us are familiar with that name) was founded in 1859 by Louis Henry Denis Jadot. For the last 150 years, Louis Jadot has established a global reputation for its outstanding red and white wines from Bourgogne. It’s one of the largest producers of estate wines of the Cote d’Or with close to 140 acres of vineyards from 24 of the most prestigious sites.

Louis Jadot Santenay “Clos de Malte” 2018 (approximately $49) is from Pinot Noir cultivated in the “Clos de Malte, a 7 hectare Monopole (meaning that the parcel has one owner – in this case, it’s Louis Jadot) located on the climat “Sous la Fée” at the foot of the Montagne des Troix Croix. The Santenay Clos de Malte is mainly planted with Pinot Noir with a small hectare of Chardonnay situated on extremely damp soil of limestone and clay. The village of Santenay is located in the southern part of the Côte de Beaune, just after Chassagne Montrachet.

 

Ahhh, this elegant wine – it’s still difficult to believe that the price was less than $50! On the nose, I found intense aromas of ripe red fruit, raw almonds, chalk and wet earth. The palate was notable with broad brushstrokes of flavor – spice, rich berries, minerality, dirt – on a foundation of vibrant acidity and firm tannic structure. The 2018 offered a lingering finish and I’m thrilled that it was “just right” for enjoying now through 2028.

When I was in Bourgogne in 2021, I indulged in regional and untraditional dishes in an array of expensive and not-so-expensive bistros and restaurants. With wines from Bourgogne, I relished everything from fish to poultry to veal to beef… and the cheeses! With the Louis Jadot Santenay “Clos de Malte” 2018, delicious pairings could include grilled tuna, terrines of pork or rabbit, roasted veal, steak tartare or cheeses. At home, I did my best to recreate Boeuf Bourguignon and Gratin Dauphinois, one of my favorite dishes cooked to perfection at Bistrot Lucien in Gevrey-Chambertin. (Photo below is at Bistrot Lucien!). The pairing, textured and complex, was stunning…

That evening, I was back in Bourgogne with sips of wine, bites of Boeuf Bourguignon, memories that will last forever and a few extra dollars in my wallet..

Cheers! ~ Cindy

For more Grape Experiences and a free infographic “4 Keys to a Stellar Wine Pick” click here.

Enjoy the following articles from my #Winophiles colleagues.

Wendy Klik from A Day in the Life on the Farm enjoys “Domaine Chevillon Chezeaux Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits, 2018 Paired with a Maple Pecan Chicken”

Camilla Mann from Culinary Adventures with Camilla shares her love of “Connecticut Lobster Rolls, Canned Lobster Bisque, and a 2019 Henry Fessy ‘Maître Bonhome’ Viré-Clessé”   Culinary Adventures with Camilla (culinary-adventures-with-cam.blogspot.com)

Jeff Burrows of Food Wine Click explains why we should “Look the Other Way for Affordable Bourgogne”

Gwendolyn Lawrence Alley from Wine Predator enjoys “Budget Burgundy Bubbles and Gamay Paired with Simple Baked Camembert and Wine Harvester’s Braised Chicken”