レ・サントノ・デュ・ミリュー
コート・ド・ボーヌのムルソー村内に位置しながら、赤ワインを生産する際にヴォルネイの名を冠することが許された特殊な一画がサントノである。その中心部に位置するサントノ・デュ・ミリューは、約8ヘクタールの面積を有し、一帯で最も優れた条件を備えるプルミエ・クリュとして高く評価されてきた。ヴォルネイの他区画と比較して粘土質が豊富な土壌組成を特徴とし、そこから生まれるワインは骨格のしっかりとした厚みのある質感を備える。真価の発揮には一定の熟成期間を要するが、長期保存に耐えうる強固な構造が魅力である。ドメーヌ・デ・コンテ・ラフォンやアルベール・ビショーなどが主要な所有者として名を連ね、この地のポテンシャルを体現し続けている。
Les Santenots du Milieu is one of Burgundy's more curious administrative anomalies. The vineyard sits inside the commune of Meursault, but an AOC rule lets its red wine carry the label "Volnay 1er Cru Santenots" — while white wine from the same parcel is sold as Meursault 1er Cru. Red-as-Volnay, white-as-Meursault: a codification of practice already well established before the AOCs took their formal shape in 1937.
"Du Milieu" marks the central and best-regarded portion of the broader Santenots area, distinct from the Dessous and Dessus sections to either side. It is also, in practical terms, the personal terrain of Domaine des Comtes Lafon — a near-monopole that has shaped how the world understands this parcel.
The broader Santenots area spans roughly 30 ha; the "du Milieu" parcel at the heart of it covers approximately 3.8 ha, held almost entirely by the Lafon family. The soil bridges Meursault's limestone and Volnay's leaner red clay, tilting the character toward red wine.
Pinot Noir when bottled as "Volnay-Santenots" red; Chardonnay when bottled as Meursault 1er Cru white. In Les Santenots du Milieu specifically, the tradition runs overwhelmingly red. The wine combines Volnay's structural elegance with Meursault's broader frame — an unusual balance that rewards patience. Ageing potential is substantial.
Domaine des Comtes Lafon holds virtually the entire climat. This is Lafon's principal red-wine cuvée — and Dominique Lafon's interpretation has earned a reputation that reaches well beyond the typical audience for a domaine otherwise associated with white Burgundy.
Domaine Matrot — a Meursault family estate with parcels in the broader Santenots area.
Bouchard Père & Fils — the major négoce house holds parcels across the Santenots cluster.
Domaine Jacques Prieur — long-standing holdings in Santenots.
Côte de Beaune・Rouge · 1947–2024 (5-point overall, newest on right)
| Yr | Score | Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ★★★★★ | Drink early | Frost, hail and mildew made Pinot extremely difficult. Yields fell to a quarter at worst, with overall thin, challenging quality. |
| 2023 | ★★★★★ | Drink early | A large crop with seductive fruit but inconsistent density. Approachable, charming reds for early-to-medium drinking. |
| 2022 | ★★★★★ | Hold | Despite the heat, perfumed reds with refined tannins seamlessly integrated with fruit — a recent benchmark vintage. |
| 2021 | ★★★★★ | Hold | A cool, classical return to high-acid style. Juicy, crunchy villages; Grands Crus show poise and freshness. |
| 2020 | ★★★★★ | Hold | Concentrated, dramatic fruit with surprising freshness from early picking. A standout vintage with long aging potential. |
| 2019 | ★★★★★ | Hold | Ripe yet classically balanced — an outstanding year with rich fruit and fresh acidity, suited to long-term aging. |
| 2018 | ★★★★★ | Hold | Dark, vivacious and concentrated reds combining ripeness with freshness — a standout recent vintage built to age. |
| 2017 | ★★★★★ | Drink now | A generous year, 41% larger than 2016. Supple, accessible reds with juicy fruit for near-term enjoyment. |
| 2016 | ★★★★★ | Drink now | Frost slashed yields, but survivors made deep-coloured, fleshy reds with soft tannins — charming for medium-term drinking. |
| 2015 | ★★★★★ | Hold | Warm, low-yielding and ripe, producing deeply fruited reds with structure and excellent long-term aging potential. |
| 2014 | ★★★★★ | Drink now | Fresh, lively and energetic reds with more length than amplitude — elegant, classic Côte de Beaune in style. |
| 2013 | ★★★★★ | Drink now | July hail damaged the north, but overall a cool, classical vintage producing charming reds with terroir clarity for medium-term. |
| 2012 | ★★★★★ | Drink now | Frost and hail cut yields, but survivors produced concentrated, balanced reds with harmonious structure and fruit. |
| 2011 | ★★★★★ | Drink now | Light, accessible Pinot with modest structure. Pure fruit and soft texture make it appealing for near-term drinking. |
| 2010 | ★★★★★ | At peak | A classical vintage with fine acid-tannin balance. A step behind Côte de Nuits but elegant and now showing mature charm. |
| 2009 | ★★★★★ | At peak | Charming and fluid with ripe, pure fruit; some soft and approachable early. |
| 2008 | ★★★★★ | At peak | Late, small harvest yielding pure, vibrant reds; somewhat inconsistent. |
| 2007 | ★★★★★ | At peak | Good ripeness in Beaune, Pommard and Volnay; aromatic, early-drinking reds. |
| 2006 | ★★★★★ | At peak | Less dense than Cote de Nuits but vibrant and elegant. |
| 2005 | ★★★★★ | Hold | Beautifully balanced with vibrant structures; rich in fruit and tannins for long ageing. |
| 2004 | ★★★★★ | At peak | Hail and oidium challenged the year; sorting yielded fine, structured wines. |
| 2003 | ★★★★★ | At peak | Exotic, ripe and rich from the heatwave; some wines very high in alcohol. |
| 2002 | ★★★★★ | At peak | Balanced and fruity; slightly lighter than Cote de Nuits, but elegant. |
| 2001 | ★★★★★ | At peak | Good but uneven due to rain and hail; stick to top producers. |
| 2000 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | Uneven; rain resulted in light, soft reds, mostly past their prime. |
| 1999 | ★★★★★ | At peak | One of Cote de Beaune's best modern vintages; ripe, succulent reds. |
| 1998 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | Uneven due to frost and hail; stick to top domaines. |
| 1997 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | Soft, round wines for early consumption; low in natural acidity. |
| 1996 | ★★★★★ | At peak | Ripe, fresh, harmonious reds; a large crop diluted some but structure remained. |
| 1995 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | Rain and rot weakened many wines; top examples were solid and tannic. |
| 1994 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | September rain brought rot; few wines escaped dilution. |
| 1993 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | Thick-skinned grapes yielded dense, tannic reds of classical structure. |
| 1992 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A generous, supple vintage for early drinking; lacking structure. |
| 1991 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | Frost and hail hit hard; Cote de Beaune especially struggled. |
| 1990 | ★★★★★ | At peak | A historic vintage; even Cote de Beaune produced rich, long-lived reds. |
| 1989 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A ripe, seductive vintage that foreshadowed the great 1990. |
| 1988 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A warm September yielded structured, age-worthy reds. |
| 1986 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A challenging vintage marked by rain and rot. |
| 1985 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A historic vintage of elegance, balance and ripe concentration. |
| 1983 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | Heat and rot made for a difficult year; top wines were tannic and structured. |
| 1982 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A large, soft vintage suited to early drinking; most past prime. |
| 1980 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | Re-evaluated as a balanced, perfumed vintage for Cote de Beaune. |
| 1978 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A late-harvest masterpiece combining richness and refinement. |
| 1976 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A hot, concentrated year producing structured, long-lived reds. |
| 1971 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A classic, concentrated vintage remembered for its structure. |
| 1969 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A refined, structured vintage; a pinnacle of the 1960s. |
| 1966 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | Remembered as a balanced, classically elegant vintage. |
| 1964 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A concentrated, structured year with classical ageing potential. |
| 1962 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A notable late-20th-century year producing refined, perfumed reds. |
| 1961 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A concentrated classic vintage; a softer style than Cote de Nuits. |
| 1959 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A landmark vintage of the 1950s combining generosity and elegance. |
| 1957 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A balanced, velvety vintage of classical character. |
| 1953 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A graceful vintage producing perfumed, refined reds. |
| 1949 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A classic masterpiece of elegance and balance; among the century's finest reds. |
| 1947 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A legendary post-war vintage of concentrated fruit and structure. |
Aggregated consensus from professional and trade assessments. Individual vineyards or producers may diverge.
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