Alain Gras : Saint-Romain Village "Les Cinq Climats" 2023

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Saint-Romain Village "Les Cinq Climats" 2023 from Alain Gras

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a bright pale gold, enhanced by crystalline, shimmering highlights.

Nose

Powerful and expressive, the nose unveils aromas of hazelnut and toasted bread, alongside subtle hints of vanilla. Notes of juicy pear and white flowers complete the aromatic spectrum. A touch of citrus brings freshness to the whole, while a delicate brioche nuance rounds out the aromatic profile.

Palate

The attack is lively and generous, combining mineral tension with roundness. White-fruit aromas carry through to a subtly toasted, buttery finish. The balance between fine minerality and delicately oaked notes creates remarkable harmony on the palate. The texture is fleshy, juicy, and delicately fruit-driven. The finish lingers with impressive length, promising a structured, high-quality wine.

Food and wine pairings

The Saint-Romain Village "Les Cinq Climats" 2023, with its vibrant minerality and natural freshness, pairs beautifully with simply prepared grilled sea bass, monkfish Bourguignonne-style, or seafood. Poultry also makes a classic match: roast chicken, a delicate herb omelet, or veal blanquette will find an exemplary companion in this wine. Soft, creamy cheeses such as Brillat-Savarin, Cîteaux, or Camembert benefit from an ideal pairing with the wine’s slightly mineral acidity. A warm goat cheese salad, wild mushroom fricassees, or lightly sautéed vegetables will also marry elegantly with this Saint-Romain.

Serving and cellaring

Recommendations suggest that the Saint-Romain Village "Les Cinq Climats" 2023 is best enjoyed over a period of three to five years. Cellaring at a constant temperature between 12 and 14 °C, away from light and vibrations in a cool, humid cellar, will allow the wine to evolve gracefully.

An exceptional Saint-Romain white that captures the minerality and elegance of the Côte de Beaune

The estate

Founded in 1979 by Alain Gras in Saint-Romain-le-Haut, Domaine Alain Gras now spans fifteen hectares of estate-owned vineyards, primarily in the Saint-Romain appellation, as well as in Meursault and Auxey-Duresses. The fifth generation of a Burgundian winegrowing family, Alain Gras has turned this little-known appellation into an essential benchmark thanks to over four decades of relentless work. Recognized as a true ambassador for Saint-Romain, he notably served as game advisor to the three-Michelin-starred chef Bernard Loiseau. Since February 2023, his son Arthur, aged twenty-three, has joined the estate, carrying on the winemaking legacy with a personal vision while remaining rooted in his father’s values of excellence. The estate practices sustainable viticulture and favors hand harvesting to ensure rigorous grape selection.

The vineyard

The Saint-Romain Village "Les Cinq Climats" 2023 comes from vines planted in the commune of Saint-Romain, set on a hillside at altitude between Meursault and Pommard. The vines benefit from an elevated position, between 180 and 400 meters above sea level, on clay-limestone soils made up of marl and highly mineralized limestone. This altitude creates a thermal gradient that allows the grapes to retain naturally well-preserved acidity while achieving sufficient ripeness. The village’s famous cliffs effectively protect the vines from destructive winds. The plots feature various aspects, primarily south-southeast and north-northeast, contributing to the richness of this blended cuvée. The vines average around forty years of age.

The vintage

The 2023 vintage benefited from balanced weather conditions. The winter of 2022-2023 was rather mild and dry, while spring brought intermittent rainfall. Alternating warm spells and cooler periods allowed the vines to develop smoothly, without any particular water stress. Flowering took place around early June in splendid weather. After August 20, temperature peaks reaching 35°C significantly accelerated physiological ripeness. A major storm on August 28 brought the necessary moisture to complete ripening. Alain and Arthur Gras decided to begin harvesting in the first days of September, a strategic choice that enabled them to preserve the optimal balance between ripeness and acidity. The sanitary condition of the Chardonnay grapes was excellent, with satisfactory yields.

Winemaking and aging

The Saint-Romain Village "Les Cinq Climats" 2023 is made in accordance with Burgundian tradition. After hand harvesting and rigorous sorting, around 20% to 30% of the grapes are destemmed before pressing. Pressing is carried out using a modern pneumatic press. The juices are then placed in oak barrels to undergo alcoholic and malolactic fermentations. Aging takes place in barrels of which around 20% are new, while the remaining 80% are barrels from one or more previous vintages. Total barrel aging, complemented by aging in stainless-steel tanks, lasts for approximately twelve months before bottling.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay