Domaine Guffens-Heynen Saint-Veran Jus 1er Blanc 2022

Tasting Notes

From the Clos des Poncetys, Les Carettes and Les Combes, Guffens crafted a mere six barrels of this splendid Saint-Véran. It’s a wine that comes only from the first pressing of Guffens’s adapted Coquard (Champagne) press, hence 1er Jus. Clos des Poncetys is a small vineyard that lies below the Vergisson rock, and Guffens has described it as the “Chevalier-Montrachet of Davayé”. Part of this reference is to the steepness of the site—the rocky, limestone-rich soil—but also the site’s ability to produce ultra-pure flavours with grand cru concentration. Guffens blends this fruit with Les Combes, a terroir on the south-facing slope of Chasselas and is renowned for its freshness and minerality. Les Carettes, also in Davayé, faces northeast and adds further power, texture and mineral steel to this stellar Burgundy. Fabulous.

 “Aromas of green pear, confit orange, almond paste and white peach preface the 2022 Saint-Véran 1er Jus, a medium to full-bodied, fleshy wine with a textural attack that segues into a taut, electric palate, concluding with a long, saline finish. This is another strong performance this year, lent additional concentration by a touch of passerillage in the warm, dry weather before harvest.” 93-95 points, William Kelley, The Wine Advocate