2022 Les Heritiers Saint-Genys Santenay Les Prarons

What do Chateau Teyssier, Ch. Talbot, Ch. Smith Haut Lafitte, Clos Fourtet, Domaine Laroche in Chablis, Dom. Saint-Prefert in Chateauneuf, Commanderie de Peyrassol in Provence, Tenuta Argentiera in Bolgheri, and Inglenook in Napa have in common?

All of these leading wineries have turned to Stephane Derenoncourt to make their highly regarded wines even better. Today, BHW is pleased to introduce to you another esteemed estate that has benefited from Derenoncourt’s wine whispering: Les Heritiers de Saint-Genys in Burgundy. 

Les Heritiers Saint-Genys winery is located in Chassagne Montrachet, where they produce several excellent wines, both rouge et blanc. In 2011, the winery acquired Le Clos Marcilly, a Premier Cru vineyard in Mercurey. Following improvements and some replanting, the vineyard is now a monopole, a unique vineyard with its own appellation (or AOC), that is solely farmed and controlled by Les Heritiers Saint-Genys. This is akin to how Romanee Conti has made famous their own monopoles, such as Romanee Conti and La Tache. To own and farm a monopole is a responsibility of the highest order and is considered a privilege. Les Heritiers Saint Genys is dedicated to making a tiny amount of only the best wines the land will offer.

Santenay is the last appellation south of the Cote de Beaune (near Chassagne-Montrachet) The specific area is known as the “Prarons”, which produces soft wines that are rather fleshy. The average age of the vines is 50 years old. The wine is aged eighteen months in 20% new French oak. Only 4000 bottles were produced in the outstanding 2022 vintage with around 1200 imported into the US.