Tasted in Santenay with Antoine Olivier (and M), 17 October 2016.
Domaine Antoine Olivier
5 rue Gaudin
21590 Santenay, France
Tel: +33 (0)3 80 20 61 35
www.domaineolivier.fr
A visitor to the domaine this year, will also be greeted by ‘M’ a young and friendly bear of a Newfoundland. Just in case you were wondering about the name, his father is called James Bond!
Antoine on 2016:
“The yields for the whites are not bad as there was not much frost in Santenay. The volume harvested for the reds was about 50% down – actually 90% down in Savigny and Pommard. But the grapes were good so I think the quality will be very interesting.”
Antoine on 2015:
“I haven’t tasted them in the last month, but I think that they are good, maybe not the best of last 10 years – that would be 2005 – but everything has been easy for the vinification and aging. I racked the reds in summer if there was some reduction, the rest haven’t been moved. The whites were racked 1 month ago, just before the harvest.”
The wines…
Simply a super set of wines – as usual!
2015 Bourgogne Pinot Noir
All destemmed.
The nose has bright crunchy fruit with real depth. Fresh, layered, and clearly gives the impression that it’s from a higher appellation than bourgogne – super texture and concentration too. “It will be very pleasant to drink young which is what I want, I don’t know if it will age.“ Well, I’d be happy to give that a try…
2015 Santenay Temps des (Ce)Rises
30% whole cluster.
Dark fruit, probably due to reduction. More dimension of flavour, here more gas and a hint of tannin – super wine though, and a more serious wine too. Yum!
2015 Santenay les Charmes
This 100% whole cluster, but no pigeage.
Nice, vivid, dark fruit. Lovely, fruit here, with a faint tannin – it’s a longer line of flavour here – again dark fruit in character.
60% whole-cluster fermentation.
Some freshness but a little reduction too. More dimension, and complexity, a lighter but more assured touch, Super, really super!
2015 Savigny-lès-Beaune
Racked, like the Bourgogne, due to reduction.
Fresh, pretty and floral nose. Round and very intense, yet this remains welcoming wine.
Vibrant, gorgeous dark fruit. More structure, but lots more fruit dimension too. Bright finishing. Super-yum!
Normally 80% sourced from Noizons.
A faint reduction but inviting. This has some structure, but gorgeous mouth-watering fruit too. Wow! A winner!
Les Blancs…
The whites probably will be bottled from January onwards.
2015 Bourgogne Blanc Les Dindes
A core of ripe and open fruit – like soda. Fresh, nice Line, modestly mineral too. Very nice
A fresher fruit nose. Bright and expressive – actually beautiful definition. A super buy!
Champs Carafe is a part of Les Bras. Les Bras is the ‘official’ lieux-dit with 2 subdivisions; Champs Carafe and Daumelles, Champs Carafe is the higher part.
A fresh nose, suggesting flowers. Beautiful definition, beautiful acidity. Bright but nothing in excess – simply a gorgeous wine!
2015 Santenay Sous la Roche
A squeaky-clean nose, freshness too. A beautiful point of intensity, slowly widening and mouth-watering. Excellent!
A slight reduction, but like always, this smells like Meursault to me. Wide, complex, growing in intensity, fabulous wine if you can find it!