THE DOMAINE
Domaine Justin Girardin is a 17 hectare estate in Santenay, with holdings stretching north to Pommard and Savigny.
We have worked with Justin since his first solo year at the helm of this family domaine, the 2015 vintage.
The Girardin family traces its Burgundian roots back to 1570. Justin, the 13th generation, returned to the domaine in 2010, working alongside his parents, Valérie and Jacques, who had bought the domaine from his uncle, Vincent Girardin.
Of the three premiers crus Santenays, Clos Rousseau has the greatest ageing potential and substance, whilst Beauregard is approachable younger, with Maladière sitting somewhere in between. The wines are 100% destemmed.
THE WINES
THE 2020 VINTAGE AT DOMAINE JUSTIN GIRARDIN
Domaine Justin Girardin started picking on 23rd August, finishing on 1st September. Justin commented that despite the warmth of the 2020 summer, his wines have high acidity, which has enabled the differences between terroirs to be visible. Alcohol levels here are lower than in 2019 – 13% abv on average.
Justin gave the wines 5-7 days cold soak and performed three pump-overs at the beginning of vinification. Maceration lasted 21 days in total, which included four days of post-fermentation maceration.
.
SANTENAY 1ER CRU MALADIÈRE
The name Maladière comes from the nearby Maladière of Chagny hospital. This is a sunny, warm site. It is a south-east facing vineyard, with deeper soils, located in the centre of the appellation. Justin has 0.7 hectares here. This has a little more raspberry fruit, with a clipped tannic precision to the palate and juicy acidity. 20% new oak.
Corney & Barrow Score 17+
Recommended drinking from 2024–2030
SANTENAY 1ER CRU CLOS ROUSSEAU
Clos Rousseau has deep, heavy clay soils. Justin’s vines here have deep root networks, allowing them to retain more water and conferring an age-worthiness on the resulting wines. Justin has almost one hectare here. This is the most concentrated and intensely fruited of the three premiers crus, with an extra layer of raspberry ripeness and a beguiling velvety, violet-clad elegance. 20% new oak.
Corney & Barrow Score 17.5-18
Recommended drinking from 2026–2032+
SANTENAY 1ER CRU BEAUREGARD
Beauregard, with its distinctive windmill and phenomenal views towards Chassagne-Montrachet, is the highest of the domaine’s Santenay holdings, around 50 metres above the others. The soils here are the poorest of the three sites yet this tends to be the most immediately attractive of Justin’s Santenays. Dark berry and bitter cherry fruits, with a lovely crunch to the palate and fresh acidity. 20% new oak.
Corney & Barrow Score 17.5
Recommended drinking from 2025–2031
POMMARD LES VIGNOTS
The domaine’s Pommard is now made from just the two best plots, in Les Vignots, the domaine’s highest-elevation site. Deeply blackberry-fruited, with a chocolatey decadence and aromas of sweet spices and cinnamon. The palate’s fine, powerful tannins frame the fruit majestically. A long, fruit-driven finish. 25% new oak.
Corney & Barrow Score 18
Recommended drinking from 2024–2030