Saint-Aubin 1ER Cru Sentier Du Clou

Since the 19th Century, generations of the Pillot family have cultivated the hills of Chassagne-Montrachet on over 35 acres of land spread across 22 different appellations. The vineyards are mainly concentrated on Chassagne-Montrachet and Pommard terroirs, but also on the soils of Santeany, Saint-Aubin, Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault, Volnay, and Beaune. The father-and-son team of Fernand and Laurent focuses tirelessly on maintaining quality with their practices: low yields, minimal use of fertilizer and strict hygiene. All of their wines are vinified and matured in a modern winery but Laurent pays special attention to keep with traditional Burgundy practices: barrel fermentation for the whites, minimal stirring of the lees, and aging the wines in French oak barrels from a variety of forests and coopers. The vineyards are worked “agrobiologie” with care taken to see that soils are cultivated without the use of chemical weed-killers. The family is also a member of the research group DEPHY-EcoPhyto since 2012, which aims to decrease the amount of pesticides used and to better agricultural techniques for an environmentally sound ecosystem.

The vines grow on very stony, rocky slopes with clay and limestone subsoils. Sentier du Clou 1er Cru faces southeast on the slopes above the village of St. Aubin, amongst the finest terroirs of this little known village.

The vines grow on very stony, rocky slopes with clay and limestone subsoils. Sentier du Clou 1er Cru faces southeast on the slopes above the village of St. Aubin, amongst the finest terroirs of this little known village. Grapes are hand-harvested and carried to the winery where they undergo alcoholic fermentation in oak barrels for a period of two months. The wine is aged in French oak barrels for 11–12 months.

Lovely aromas of citrus fruit and honey lead way to a round and supple mouthfeel of grapefruit, lemon and a long finish with a hint of almond. This wine represents extraordinary value, and can age five to ten years. Excellent with stuffed turkey, chicken or game hens, seafood dishes and grilled vegetables.