Abbaye de Santenay was initially created in 1985 by Michel Clair who inherited part of the family domaine. His father’s property, Domaine François Clair, was split into two (1 part given to Michel and the other part to the other son Denis). In 2001 Michel expanded the size of the property thanks to land he inherited from his uncle Louis Clair who had no children. A new domaine (combining the two properties) called Domaine de l’Abbaye de Santenay was thus created. Domaine de l’Abbaye de Santenay (14 hectares) is today run by Ludovic Pierrot, the son-in-law of Michel Clair. Ludovic and his team carry on the effort and maintain the vines in a rigorous way to obtain high quality fruit. The philosophy of the domaine is to get the best of the terroirs, respecting nature and preserving the finesse of the wines. The domaine is certified Organic (Ecocert) and Biodynamic (Demeter).
The 2018 Santenay 1er Cru Comme displays notes of sweet cherries and blackberries, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep and flavorful palate built around powdery but youthfully assertive tannins and lively acids. This is both one of the more vibrant and more structured wines in the range this year, so give it a few years in the cellar. Date: Feb 2020; Drink: 2022-2040; Rating: 91+ Points; William Kelley; Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate