Domaine de la Croix Senaillet, Davayé *Organic - certified

Background

This estate was founded in 1969 by Maurice Martin, and for the first five years he sold his juice off in bulk. In 1974 he began bottling his own production, and the reputation of the estate took off. Maurice’s son Richard took over in 1990, at the age of 21, and he was joined by his brother Stéphane in 1992. Since being in charge, these two brothers have undertaken the most remarkable and ambitious investment, growing the estate from 6.5 to 25 hectares.

The two brothers make an excellent team, with Stéphane being responsible for the work in the vineyards, and Richard taking control in the cellar.

Size: This 25 hectare estate is made up of 52 separate parcels, largely situated in the commune of Davayé, and made up of:

Saint-Véran - 20ha.
Macon-Villages - 4 ha.
Pouilly-Fuissé - 0.16 ha.

Soil type:	chalk and clay, with some marly soil containing siliceous stones.
Vine age:	35 years old on average (with certain plots of vines being over 50 years old).
Yields:	55-60 hl/ha.
Annual production:	150,000 bottles (predominantly Saint-Veran)

Viticultural and vinification methods

Stéphane carefully monitors the vines and soils, employing eco-friendly and bio-dynamic viticultural practices. In the winery, Richard places great importance on respecting the character and qualities of the individual parcels, largely believing that the character of wines comes solely from the grapes and soil.

They are experimenting with different containers for vinification and lees ageing; trying coopered foudres for certain cuvées and ceramic egg-shaped cuves for others -trying to find what suits each parcel of vines. Their recently completed huge new gravity-fed cuverie with thermo-regulated vats, and the newly purchased pneumatic presses have added an extra dimension to the wines that promises to take them up the next rung on the quality ladder. 

Wines

Mâcon Davayé

Saint-Véran

Saint-Véran ‘Les Buis’