Vézelay Chardonnay 'Les Saulniers' 2023, Domaine Sainte Madeleine

A single-vineyard masterpiece of Premier Cru stature from northern Burgundy. Within the boutique appellation of Vézelay (spanning just 80 hectares in total), the single-vineyard release Vézelay 'Les Saulniers' 2023 from Domaine Sainte Madeleine represents the pinnacle of Alexandre and Blandine Le Corguillé's craftsmanship. Sourced from 33-year-old Chardonnay vines on a favored north-west facing slope in Saint-Père, this cuvée boasts an impressive 92 Points in Decanter, proving that top-tier Vézelay rivals the finest Premier Crus of neighboring Chablis.

In the glass, it shows a deep, luminous golden-yellow hue with brilliant clarity. The nose opens with profound complexity, revealing aromas of candied yellow orchard fruit, fragrant citrus zest, dried apricot, toasted hazelnut, and crushed flint. On the palate, it is expansive, rounded, and velvety — exhibiting an almost crémeux mouthfeel intersected by sharp, vertical acidity. This striking harmony between rich texture and mineral precision culminates in an exceptionally persistent, saline finish reminiscent of a great Chablis Premier Cru.

Key Highlights

• Terroir: 100% Chardonnay sourced from 33-year-old, deeply rooted vines in the single plot Les Saulniers in Saint-Père (Vézelay AOC). Clay topsoil over Jurassic limestone bedrock (calcaire jurassique) endows the wine with Premier Cru drive and mineral tension.
• Rating: Awarded 92/100 points by Decanter (December 2024).
• Winemaking & Ageing: Hand-harvested and strictly sorted. Whole-cluster pressing followed by spontaneous alcoholic and malolactic fermentation using native yeasts. Aged in stainless steel vats to preserve pure fruit focus, depth, and terroir authenticity. Minimal total sulfur added strictly at bottling.
• Sustainability: Organic viticulture prioritizing soil biology, biodiversity, and ecosystem health.
• Tasting Profile: Rounded, velvety (crémeux), powerful, and mineral-driven. Notes of candied fruit, citrus zest, dried apricot, toasted nuts, flint, and a piercing saline finish with impressive length.
• Ageing Potential: Highly complex and vibrant now, possessing the structural frame, density, and vertical acidity to cellar gracefully over 6 to 10 years. Extremely limited production!

Food Pairing

• Fish & Shellfish: A majestic pairing alongside seared sea scallops, grilled langoustines, poached turbot, lobster in beurre blanc, and fine raw oysters.
• Poultry & Fine Dining: Excellent match for roasted Bresse chicken with morels, veal medallions in light cream reduction, or truffle-infused veal cutlets.
• Gastronomy & Cheese: Wonderful with wild mushroom risotto, as well as mature French cheeses like Epoisses, Chaource, Brillat-Savarin, and aged Comté.
• Serving Suggestion: Best served chilled at 10°C to 12°C in generous Burgundy crystal glasses to allow its complex aromatics and rich mouthfeel to expand.

The Terroir of Les Saulniers

The renowned Les Saulniers parcel perches in the historic village of Saint-Père at the foot of the Vézelay hill. Its north-west orientation on a steep slope ensures a slow, balanced ripening cycle that preserves crystalline acidity. The subsoil of rich clay over Jurassic limestone forces 33-year-old vine roots deep into the bedrock, creating a harmony of creamy volume and vertical minerality.

About Domaine Sainte Madeleine

Situated in Tharoiseau, Domaine Sainte Madeleine was established in 2020 by agronomists and enologists Alexandre and Blandine Le Corguillé. Blending heritage from Champagne and Burgundy, the couple manages their boutique domain with technical rigor. Through organic practices, whole-cluster pressing, and wild yeast fermentations, Alexandre and Blandine craft low-intervention white Burgundies acclaimed by international critics for their precision and terroir drive.