Caroline Morey Santenay 1er Cru La Comme 2020

La Comme sits right on the border with Chassagne-Montrachet, and it's one of the standout sites in Caroline Morey's small but increasingly celebrated portfolio. Caroline, daughter of the revered Chassagne producer Jean-Marc Morey and wife of Pierre-Yves Colin, has become widely regarded as the finer red-wine talent of the two — she handles her Pinot Noirs herself, typically with a substantial share of whole-cluster fruit, picking early in the cool morning to preserve freshness and using a gentle, non-interventionist approach that avoids heavy colour extraction. Santenay itself sits in the far southern reach of the Côte de Beaune, its soils rich in oolitic limestone and marl — terroir that has historically produced sturdy, well-built Pinot Noir, though in Caroline's hands La Comme takes on a more perfumed, refined character than the appellation's reputation might suggest.

The result is genuinely enticing: rose petal, violet, red fruit, and liquorice unfurl on the nose, giving way to a palate with real sturdiness and structure beneath its floral lift — Decanter has rated recent vintages at the Premium tier, reflecting the wine's growing critical reputation. It's a Premier Cru that offers real depth without demanding the patience of grander Côte de Nuits reds, making it an excellent entry point for anyone exploring what red Burgundy can do at a more accessible price. Pour it with roast duck, mushroom-based dishes, or a simple coq au vin; this is Santenay at its most elegant, from a winemaker who's rapidly becoming one of the most exciting names in Chassagne-Montrachet's next generation.