Spotlight on... William Saintot
Back in bitterly cold November we headed to Avenay-Val-d'Or at the extreme East of the Marne Valley to meet with vigneron, Morgann Saintot, for the first time. We'd heard good things about the Maison but, as always, the proof is in the pudding...
About the Maison...
Based in the village of Avenay-Val-d’Or, domain William Saintot is currently run by 5th generation vigneron, Morgann Saintot. Committed to working in a sustainable way, Morgann brought the Maison to HVE certification in 2014, VDC in 2016 and is currently on his way to organic certification.
The 10ha holdings are all Premier Cru and planted with predominately Pinot Noir (85%), along with Chardonnay (12%), Meunier (2%), and also 1% of Petit Meslier. Morgann vinifies his plots separately to highlight the typical characteristics of each terroir, which range from silt to clay, and deep fragmented chalk. He uses oak barrels, concrete eggs and stainless vats, along with indigenous yeasts. His non-vintage cuvées are aged for a minimum of 36 months and 96 months for vintages. Dosage is typically low in order to highlight the aromas of each cuvée.
The Champagne...
Morgann currently creates eight distinct wines. Of these, we have selected three that cover different price points and styles to offer an accurate reflection of the Maison.
Blanc de Noirs – Pure Pinot Noir vinified in steel, concrete and oak. A great introduction to the winemaker and his wines.
Meunier de Mes Grand Peres – 100% Meunier that pays homage to his grandparents. Limited production.
Tortelue – Stunning, single-vineyard Pinot Noir from the 2014 vintage. Just 591 produced.
