Domaine de la Croix Senaillet

Domaine de la Croix Senaillet is located in southern Burgundy, in Davayé, in the heart of the Mâconnais crus. The estate is close to the prehistoric site of the famous Roche de Solutré. In 1992, Richard and Stéphane Martin took over from their father Maurice Martin, who devoted himself entirely to the vine from 1969 onwards. Today, they run the estate, bringing in new blood and fresh ideas, with a single watchword: quality.

The 26 hectares of Domaine de la Croix Senaillet are spread over a mosaic of more than 50 plots of land within the "Grand Site de France" of Solutré - Pouilly - Vergisson. The vines, on average 40 years old, are planted exclusively with Chardonnay grapes. The majority of these vines face the rising sun on gentle slopes that extend the eastern slopes of the Solutré and Vergisson rocks. The soil is composed of marly limestone from the Middle and Upper Jurassic periods. Alteration results in clayey silts that can be carried down the slopes by runoff.

The Domaine de la Croix Senaillet vineyard is cultivated using certified organic methods. Harvesting the grapes at optimum maturity is one of the winemaker's challenges, and one that determines the final quality of the wine. On arrival at the winery, the grapes are gently conveyed by conveyor belt into the presses. This direct pressing is slow and carried out at low pressure to obtain the purest possible juice (= must) that best expresses the aromatic finesse of the Chardonnay grape variety. Before bottling, all Domaine de la Croix Senaillet wines are aged on their fine lees for 10 months, giving them a smooth roundness and greater complexity.