It's All About the Soil
It will not surprise you to here that this white Burgundy, like so many others, owes its class and flavour to the soil on which it is grown. The point of interest with this Santanay is that the vines are deliberately planted very close to the bedrock and the vineyard is scattered with little stone walls. The name Sous la Roche actually translates as 'under the rock', but whilst the rocky soil imparts the deep minerality you'd expect, the surface rocks crucially hold the heat of the day and keeps the fruit warm during the colder night, allowing the grapes to flourish. I wanted to include this wine in the wine club because to me this is a great example of a classic style that reminds us that in the search for different and exciting wines, we must not forsake tradition.