Santini "Bourgogne Grand Ordinaire" Rouge 2023

Another Santini gem! A blend of organically cultivated Pinot Noir from Bourgogne and Gamay from Chiroubles, made in a cleverly extracted style, with lots of fruit and minimal tannin. 

The grapes are hand-harvested, a portion are directly pressed as rosé juice, the rest are thrown in whole-bunch to macerate/infuse for several weeks before pressing. Spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel, short élevage in neutral barrel. Unfined, unfiltered, no additional SO2. 

Chiroubles has the highest, steepest vines in Beaujolais, which makes working the vines a more physically demanding process. The reward for this meticulous work shines through in the bottle.

Of French and American descent, Christopher Santini has been immersed in the world of wine since childhood. His passion took root at the age of 20, during his first harvest in Provence. This led him to study oenology at the University of Beaune. He then honed his skills at several estates in the region before joining the team of legendary importer Kermit Lynch in Beaune—invaluable experiences that refined his vision of wine.

Chris produced his first vintage at Christophe Pacalet's winery in 2013. Three years later, he established himself in Auxey-Duresses, in a century-old winery. This space became a hub for sharing, where young winemakers exchanged equipment, expertise and creative energy, fostering a convivial and collaborative approach to wine. Alongside this, he and his brother Patrick founded the brand Santini Collective, also known as Santini Frères. Their philosophy is to create thirst-quenching wines—lively, fruity, easy to digest, made to be drunk with enthusiasm. The grapes are vinified with indigenous yeasts, without additives (except for a light touch of sulfur at bottling), then bottled without filtration or fining.