There’s an appellation in the region of Burgundy that specializes in Sauvignon Blanc. Have you tried Saint-Bris before?
Burgundy Beyond Pinot Noir & Chardonnay
Burgundy is by far most known for their top Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. If you include Beaujolais as part of the region, then there’s also Gamay. In the Côtes Chalonnaise and in Crémant de Bourgogne, they also make the white variety Aligoté and tiny bit of Sacy too. Pinot Blanc is still allowed in parts of Burgundy too. Producers can make wine with other varieties, but then they have to be labeled Vin de France, like this Malbec from Burgundy.
Also technically part of Burgundy are the appellations near Auxerre. The most famous of course is Chablis, which grows Chardonnay. However, around Chablis you also have appellations like Irancy, who grow Pinot Noir and Cesar Noir. Because this area is actually closer to the Loire Valley region than the rest of Burgundy, it also makes sense that some Sauvignon Blanc is grown here.
Saint-Bris is an appellation just southeast of the city of Auxerre and southwest of Chablis. It produces Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris despite all its neighbors focusing on Chardonnay. I surprisingly found a bottle here in Santiago, so let’s see what it’s like.
Tasting Notes
2022 Domaine des Malandes Saint-Bris Sauvignon Blanc
The Saint-Bris-Le-Vineux appellation is just southeast of Auxerre and southwest of Chablis. Similar Kimmeridgian soils of Chablis. 100% Sauvignon (which can include Sauvignon Blanc or Gris). Mechanical harvest. 100% Stainless steel vinification and aging. Low temperature fermentation. Some Malo. Floral and leesy on the nose. Light bodied. With a little bit of texture. Medium+ acid. Some salinic notes on the backend perhaps giving a hint of the Chablis like soils. Ultimately, nobody thought it was Sauvignon Blanc. It was a pleasant, but neutral, subtle wine sort of like a Muscadet. There were no obvious Sauvignon Blanc notes although perhaps there was more Sauvignon Gris which is more neutral. 89