Saint-Romain blanc Sous La Velle "ABSULO" AOC 2022

A Chardonnay without added sulphur that opens up immediately: energetic, inviting, with deep inner tension. The name "Absolu" captures exactly that.

The Sous la Velle site lies near the village of Saint-Romain, bordering Sous le Château to the north, facing southeast at 355 to 380 metres. The soil is a colluviosol over Saint-Romain marl limestone. The altitude brings cool nights and an extended ripening period, giving the grapes acid structure and aromatic depth. The Buisson family farms its 13 hectares in Saint-Romain, Santenay and Beaune biodynamically, a practice introduced by Henri Buisson in 1990.

60-year-old Chardonnay vines, hand-harvested, whole-cluster pressing, spontaneous fermentation in wood. Malolactic fermentation also occurs spontaneously in the barrels. Ageing lasts ten to twelve months in 228, 350 and 500-litre barriques and tonneaux, of which at most 10% are replaced each year. Frédéric Buisson tastes the wine daily and racks the barrels whenever he deems it necessary. It is fined with bentonite, filtered only very lightly, and not sulphured at all.

Intense straw yellow in the glass. The nose is wide open and generous: yellow apple, pear, apricot and nectarine, yellow plum, plus ripe lemon and orange, vanilla, apple skin and pastry. On the palate it is full-bodied, juicy, tonic and intense, with citrus and yellow-fleshed fruit remaining present throughout. Add to that the vibrant acidity, the vibrating minerality and a creaminess from lees ageing. At 12.5% vol., the whole remains lithe.

With pan-seared turbot in lemon butter, shellfish, Bresse chicken in morel cream sauce or aged Comté.