JEAN-CHARLES FAGOT Saint Romain Blanc 2020 Bottle

Description

IN BRIEF
Jean Charles Fagot Saint Romain Blanc 2020 is a lovely cool climate Chardonnay that balances crisp energy with a bit of silky texture. Pale gold with a faint green rim, it smells of lemon blossom, green apple and white peach, then moves to crushed shell, wet stone and a hint of hay. Give it a little air and you get dried white flowers and a gentle nutty note. Medium bodied with lively nervous acidity, citrus pith and quince at the core, plus a creamy lees lift and a saline thread that keeps it fresh. Serve at 10 to 12°C. Perfect with seared scallops, simple grilled white fish, lobster with butter or a mild goat cheese salad. Drink now to 2026 or cellar to 2028 to 2030.

ABOUT THIS WINE
Jean Charles Fagot Saint Romain Blanc 2020 is a refined, quietly expressive Chardonnay that captures cool climate precision with a measured dose of texture. Pale gold with a faint green rim, it shows a crystalline clarity and a light viscosity that hints at gentle élevage. The nose opens with lemon blossom, green apple and white peach, then unfolds savoury notes of crushed shell, wet stone and a subtle haylike aroma. With time in the glass a delicate nutty character emerges alongside dried white flowers and a whisper of spice, suggesting careful handling rather than overt oak influence.

On the palate the wine is medium bodied and driven by lively, nervous acidity that lends linearity and a sense of direction. Citrus pith and quince form the core, balanced by orchard fruit flesh and a soft creaminess from judicious lees contact. A saline mineral thread runs through, bringing tension and focus and reinforcing the cool vintage signature. Mid palate texture is refined rather than opulent, the fruit concentrated but held in check by the wine s structure, producing an impression of precision rather than weight.

The finish is long, clean and slightly saline, leaving lingering impressions of citrus oil, crushed stone and a faint almond bitterness that prompts another sip. Despite its youth the 2020 displays harmony between fruit density and acidity, making it approachable now while offering the potential for subtle development with a few years in bottle. It benefits from brief aeration but does not require decanting.

Serve chilled but not overly cold, around 10 to 12°C. Match with simply prepared white fish, scallops, lobster, creamy poultry dishes or mild goat cheese. Drink now through 2026 to enjoy its fresh, mineral driven character, or cellar until 2028 to 2030 if you prefer softer acidity and more pronounced honeyed tertiary notes. This bottling speaks of clarity, restraint and a clear sense of place.

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ABOUT JEAN-CHARLES FAGOT
Jean-Charles Fagot is a charismatic vigneron of the Côte de Beaune whose wines combine traditional craft with lively personality. He farms roughly three hectares centred on Corpeau and supplements his production with carefully chosen grapes from neighbouring growers, vinifying everything to his exacting standards. Key bottlings include a Bourgogne Blanc Cote d’Or Les Champs Huillier and a spirited Bourgogne Aligoté, while very small parcels yield Puligny-Montrachet village and the 1er Cru Hameau de Blagny when vintage and purchase opportunities allow.

In the vineyard Fagot follows lutte raisonnée, intervening with chemical treatments only when necessary to protect vine health. Canopy management, green harvesting when required and selective hand picking are routine, aimed at achieving balanced ripeness and concentration. His parcels are tended with respect for soil life and biodiversity so that each plot can express its particular minerality and textural nuance.

Vinification is traditional, natural and hands on. Whites are gently pressed and fermented with attention to preserving varietal purity. Fagot uses a combination of large oak foudres and smaller barrels for élevage, typically ageing wines for twelve to fourteen months to develop texture and integrate lees influence without overwhelming primary fruit. He adapts élevage choices to the character of each parcel and vintage, favouring subtle oak support rather than dominant wood signatures. When he buys fruit from neighbours it receives the same careful sorting and cellar treatment as estate fruit.

Stylistically his wines are noted for clarity, structural poise and an engaging balance of energy and roundness. The Bourgogne Aligoté is lively and precise, the Bourgogne Blanc shows floral lift, citrus and saline minerality, and the Puligny examples—rare and small in quantity—offer the refined depth and ageing potential expected from the commune.

Beyond winemaking Jean-Charles is a gifted musician and proprietor of the Auberge du Vieux Vigneron brasserie in Corpeau, where he often entertains guests and pours his wines. That conviviality, together with multi-generational knowhow and meticulous cellarcraft, gives his bottlings both character and a genuine sense of place.