Saint-Romain La Combe Bazin SSA 2023 Rougeot Père & Fils | Burgundy

Description: Saint-Romain La Combe Bazin SSA 2023 | Rougeot Père & Fils

The Saint-Romain La Combe Bazin SSA 2023 is produced by Domaine Rougeot Père & Fils, in the village of Saint-Romain, in the heart of the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune. It comes from the estate’s oldest vines in the La Combe Bazin vineyard parcel, making it a rare cuvée. The initials “SSA” stand for “no added sulfur” and reflect a meticulous approach that demands great precision at every stage, from the vineyard to bottling. This choice aims to allow the terroir to express itself as naturally as possible.

Terroir and Grape Variety

The La Combe Bazin vineyard is characterized by its clay-limestone soils, typical of the Saint-Romain hillsides. The altitude and soil composition lend the Chardonnay freshness and tension. Made from 100% Chardonnay, with no blending, this cuvée comes from old vines that produce concentrated grapes and naturally low yields. The wine thus combines rich fruit with a beautiful expression of the terroir.

Viticulture and Winemaking

The estate has been Demeter-certified as biodynamic since the 2023 vintage, after beginning its conversion toorganic farming in 2020. The grapes are harvested by hand, and both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation take place in French oak barrels using indigenous yeasts. The wine is then aged on fine lees, with bâtonnage, without any added sulfur. This method requires great precision at every stage but helps preserve the wine’s aromatic complexity and expression of the terroir.

Saint-Romain La Combe Bazin SSA 2023 | Rougeot Père & Fils: The Sommelier’s Review

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin

Saint-Romain is a still-underrated appellation in the Côte de Beaune that deserves to be better known. La Combe Bazin SSA 2023 from Domaine Rougeot Père & Fils is a fine example of this. Made from grapes grown on Demeter-certified biodynamic vineyards, it is fermented with native yeasts and produced without added sulfur. The wine thus expresses all the freshness and minerality of its terroir. It can be cellared for several years to develop greater complexity. To fully enjoy it, serve it at around 12°C in fine glasses.

The Nose

The nose opens with notes of white flowers and fresh pear, along with a hint of citrus reminiscent of citron. A subtle mineral note evokes the limestone soils of Saint-Romain. The overall impression remains fresh and delicate, with a clean and precise profile.

Palate

On the palate, the wine combines freshness and body without being overly round. The acidity gives it momentum, while aging on fine lees adds volume without weighing down the wine. The minerality carries through to a long, briny finish. A precise and balanced white, driven by lovely freshness.

Saint-Romain: Everything You Need to Know About This Appellation

Saint-Romain is a village appellation in the Côte de Beaune, in Burgundy. Situated at an altitude of over 300 meters, the village produces white wines made from Chardonnay and red wines made from Pinot Noir, grown on clay-limestone and limestone soils. The altitude promotes freshness and preserves the wines’ acidity. Less well-known than its neighbors, the appellation charms with its precise and balanced wines.

The 2023 Combe Bazin SSA from Domaine Rougeot Père & Fils is a fine example of this style. Made from old vines, certified Demeter biodynamic starting with this vintage, and produced without added sulfur, this Chardonnay highlights the freshness and minerality characteristic of Saint-Romain.