2020 Saint Aubin 1er Cru La Chatenière, Domaine Gérard Thomas et Filles, Cote de Beaune, Burgundy, France

The leading Premier Cru that the Thomas family make is the 1er Cru la Chateniere which is a wine that has a lime-blossom and dried fruit bouquet and a nutty, peachy fruitiness. There is also an intelligent use of oak with 20% being used in an entirely supporting role.

Until the mid-1990's, the sleepy little village of St. Aubin was rarely visited by the wine-trade as its wines didn't really have a place on most peoples lists and most of the wine (predominantly red) was sold as Cote de Beaune. Geographically, it is a bit out of the mainstream, just off the N6, up a little valley behind the villages of Chassagne. Things changed as the big name white burgundies became increasingly expensive and buyers discovered that white St. Aubin made an excellent substitute at a sensible price.

Gerard Thomas took over the domaine from his father in 1982 and has built-up a core of top vineyard sites since then. He is ably assisted by his two daughters, Anne-Sophie (now the winemaker) and Isabelle, producing top class St. Aubin and Meursault Blagny, the latter coming from a tiny parcel of 50 year old vines with an ideal south-facing aspect. The 1er Cru la Chateniere is fruit-driven but with a zingy raciness and plenty of freshness.