Domaine Justin Girardin, Santenay Rouge 1er Cru, Clos Rousseau, Burgundy, France, 2020

Producer Profile

Domaine Justin Girardin is very much a family affair, with a winemaking heritage that stretches back to the beginning of the 19th Century. Jacques (brother of Vincent) handed over the running of the 17ha family domaine to his son Justin in 2012. Whilst not being officially certified, Justin uses many organic techniques, as he is passionate about producing wines that express terroir. The results are superbly perfumed, multi-layered wines.

Domaine Justin Girardin is very much a family affair, with a winemaking heritage that stretches back to the beginning of the 19th Century. Jacques (brother of Vincent) handed over the running of the 17ha family domaine to his son Justin in 2012. Whilst not being officially certified, Justin uses many organic techniques, as he is passionate about producing wines that express terroir. The results are superbly perfumed, multi-layered wines.

Viticulture

The aim is for each parcel of land to produce a different wine with its own identity; the winemaker thus becomes the guardian of diversity. Justin is careful to ensure the well-being of his vines and only intervenes when necessary to maintain the vineyard in the logic of a healthy agriculture that is always more respectful of the environment. Man does not only work a wine, but an alchemy between the earth, the sky and the plant. They follow the moon calendar in the respect for their ancestors using methods everyone call "biodynamics" today. Only some operation like the ploughing or the watering of young plants are mechanised, the rest is strictly manual.