Jane Eyre, Santenay Blanc
Vintage: 2021
Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | JE115B21 | 6 x 75 | Natural Cork | Available |
Producer
Originally from Melbourne, Jane Eyre was previously a hairdresser in one of the city’s top salons before she “fell in love” with Burgundy while doing work experience at Domaine Chevrot in 1998. She studied winemaking at Charles Sturt University in Australia and worked vintages at Cullen in the Margaret River, as well as Felton Road and Ata Rangi in New Zealand. She returned to Europe in 2003. Following a three-month spell with Ernie Loosen in the Mosel, she subsequently made Burgundy her home, working first at Domaine des Comtes Lafon and then as assistant winemaker at Domaine Newman. She has gradually developed her own négociant business since 2011 and was delighted to move from the rented space she shared with Dominique Lafon into her own premises in Cissey just before the 2021 harvest.
In the 2021 edition of Le Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France, Jane Eyre was awarded two stars, one of only 26 producers in the whole of France to be recognised at this level. She was also named ‘Négociant of the Year’ in the Revue des Vins de France 2021, the first woman to be awarded the title. Both accolades are a phenomenal achievement for a relative newcomer to Burgundy.
The Pinot Noir for Jane’s Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru ‘Les Corbeaux’ hails from vines which are over 50 years old. It offers aromas of violets and mulberry on the nose, with racy acidity, savoury tannin and structured, red berry flavours, which all come together on the palate for a superbly balanced wine. The Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Cru ‘Aux Vergelesses’ is a sentimental wine for Jane, as it is the first parcel she ever purchased. It is beautifully perfumed, with a bouquet of red cherries, violets and raspberries, complemented by superb structure, which offers excellent ageing potential.
Jane knew the ‘Avaux’ vineyard well from her time at Domaine Newman, so jumped at the chance to source fruit from this Beaune Premier Cru. The vines are located on the Pommard side of Beaune, producing a perfumed and elegant example of this appellation. Another recent addition to Jane’s range is the Santenay Blanc. The views from this vineyard took her breath away when she first visited, with the position looking over Maranges, giving the wine excellent freshness balanced by expressive citrus fruit.
Jane’s Fleuries hail from old bush vine parcels (up to 95 years old) in the prime ‘La Madone’ and ‘Les Labourons’ lieux dits, earmarked for Premier Cru status. It is fermented with 60% whole bunch in ceramic Clayver vessels, offering incredible depth of flavour and a delicious juicy ripeness. The ‘Vendanges Entieres’, which is 100% whole bunch fermented, has a lovely crunchy fruit character and the classic elegance that runs through all of Jane’s wines.
Vineyards
Jane works with a vineyard parcel on the western side of Santenay near Maranges. The vineyard is at the top of the slope, around 400 metres above sea level. Soils are very stony, with a high limestone content, this combined with the cooler site climate here produces very mineral, fresh Chardonnay.
Vintage
2021 was a challenging vintage for winegrowers and producers in Burgundy. There were historically low yields due to catastrophic spring frost and hail, compounded by a cold, wet growing season. It is a return to a more classic vintage marked by bright acidity and freshness thanks to the cooler temperatures and resulting slower ripening, which allowed for full flavour development.
Vinification
Upon arrival at Jane's winery in Cissey, the Chardonnay was gently whole bunch pressed and left to settle. The must was then racked off the sediments and transferred to French oak barrels for fermentation. Following fermentation the wine was aged for 12 months in French oak (2 x 500-litre barrels, and 3 x 228-litre barrels, one of which was new, so 14% new oak). The wine was racked once during this period and bottled in December 2022.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
Pale lemon in colour. This wine is very expressive on the nose, with aromas of ripe lemon married with a subtle toastiness. On the palate, the wine is rich and textured and kept in balance by a linear acidity which carries the bright citrus flavours onto the mineral finish.
Alcohol (ABV)
12%
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jane Eyre | Gevrey-Chambertin | JE101 | R | ||
Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru `Aux Vergelesses` | JE103 | R | |||
Côte de Nuits Villages | JE104 | R | |||
Beaune 1er Cru `Cents Vignes`$ | JE105 | R | Factsheet | ||
Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru `Les Corbeaux` | JE106 | R | |||
Volnay | JE107 | R | |||
Corton Grand Cru | JE111 | R | Factsheet | ||
Fleurie | JE113 | R | Factsheet | ||
Beaune 1er Cru `Les Avaux` | JE116 | R | |||
Fleurie `Vendanges Entières` | JE117 | R | Factsheet | ||
Auxey-Duresses `Les Crais` | JE118 | R | |||
Savigny-lès-Beaune | JE119 | R |