Santenay Clos des Hâtes Vieilles Vignes 2024 Domaine Bachey-Legros

The Santenay Clos des Hâtes Vieilles Vignes 2024 from Domaine Bachey-Legros is a precious and confidential gem in this reference family domaine's range, recognised by Tim Atkin MW among the top 10 Burgundy producers to watch. A unique fortified plot surrounded by Premier Cru vineyards, with vines planted in 1935 among Santenay's oldest, scoring 16.5/20 from Jancis Robinson on recent vintages. A cuvée that moves between depth and lightness, elegance and presence, built for ageing from its first release.

The terroir of Clos des Hâtes

Clos des Hâtes is a fortified plot of around 1.5 hectares at the heart of Santenay village, literally framed by the appellation's Premier Cru vineyards. Its natural vocation far exceeds village Santenay status: geography, the protected walled plot configuration, and the intrinsic quality of its limestone terroir place it at the level of the appellation's finest Premier Crus. The walled plot gives this wine its distinctive character: vines are sheltered from wind, soils suffer little erosion, and the well-draining limestone sits on gentle slopes. This terroir has maintained its integrity across generations, and the old vines, planted in 1935, are in perfect health, naturally self-regulating to produce very low yields. Harvested grapes show fine concentration, with significant millerandage, those unequal-sized berries that concentrate sugars and aromas with incomparable intensity. Winemaking is precise and meticulous: 4 days cold pre-fermentation maceration, 11 days alcoholic fermentation, 10 days post-fermentation maceration. Ageing lasts 14 months, including 12 months in barrel on lees without racking, then 2 months in tank, with 20 to 30 per cent new oak depending on vintage.

Tasting profile

The colour is deep red with carmine glints, showing good density inherited from the natural concentration of old vines. The nose is sweet and spiced, with characteristic notes of elderflower, black cherry and blackcurrant, accompanied by spice echoes and an assured minerality that marks the limestone imprint of the plot. Fine, well-integrated oak adds complexity. On the 2024 vintage, marked by remarkable natural freshness, aromatic precision and tension are particularly striking. On the palate, the wine is broad and richly present: fleshy matter and solid structure, noble and fine tannins that carry the framework with elegance, and good length on the fresh finish. This Clos des Hâtes has strong personality with good minerality, tannins of pure breed from the start. The finish is long, ample and lightly spiced, with that black cherry and blackcurrant core that is the absolute signature of old vines on this terroir. Built for ten to fifteen years of ageing.

The domaine

Domaine Bachey-Legros is one of the most authentic and principled addresses in southern Côte de Beaune, founded in the 19th century by François Bachey and handed down uninterrupted across six generations, each only child preserving and enriching the family legacy. Today, Samuel and Lénaïc Legros, alongside their mother Christiane, continue this ancestral philosophy with passion and modernity across 19 hectares, 80 per cent planted before 1950. The construction of a new cellar in 2017 enabled this family trio to transcend magnificent terroirs further, combining tradition and precision in every vinification.

Food pairing

This Santenay Clos des Hâtes Vieilles Vignes pairs beautifully with roasted duck with cherries, rack of lamb with Provençal herbs, game birds such as partridge with cabbage, ribeye with wild mushrooms, or aged cheese like Époisses or old Comté. Decanting for one hour is advised in its youth. Served between 15 and 16 °C, it will reveal all the mineral depth, breed and spiced complexity of a Santenay from old vines made for fine dining and serious cellars.