Domaine Simon Colin 2023 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Le Charmois Blanc 750ml

Simon Colin is one of the most talked-about young names in white Burgundy. A sixth-generation winemaker, he is the grandson of Michel Colin of Domaine Colin-Deléger, who divided his estate between his sons Philippe and Bruno, and the son of Philippe Colin, who gifted him 9.3 hectares of his domaine (6.3 hectares of white and 3 hectares of red) to start his own. As Jasper Morris wrote, “this is an exciting new Domaine that owes its origins to Simon’s grandfather.” Colin works organically, with minimal oak influence, and his style, as his importer describes it, shows “bright minerality, minimal oak influence, and a fresh core of stone fruits.”

Le Charmois is a Premier Cru in Saint-Aubin, the village just behind Chassagne-Montrachet, and it’s one of Saint-Aubin’s best-known sites, on east-facing slopes just before Chassagne, in “a soil dense with limestone pebbles.” Colin farms 0.15 hectares of young vines there. The wine is fermented and aged in cask, 20% new, on most of its lees, in a style Decanter has described as “refreshing” and built “to open fairly soon after release and drink well for at least a decade.” Jasper Morris sees it as “a mix between the chiselled fresh limestone approach of classical St-Aubin and the slightly softer fruit as you approach Chassagne.”

Critics were enthusiastic about the 2023. Vinous’s Neal Martin (November 2024) scored it 91–93: “The 2023 Saint-Aubin Les Charmois 1er Cru has a perfumed nose with white flowers filtering through the yellow fruit... It’s quite charming, with hints of apricot in the background. This vineyard performed well in 2023 and Colin is quickly becoming one of its best exponents.” Jasper Morris scored it 90–92 (October 2024): “Mid lemon yellow. Slightly less acidity, maybe, but enough.” For context on the previous vintage, Burghound described the 2022 as having “a more elegant, and notably more floral nose, freely reveals its array of pear, apple and anise nuances... a caressing but vibrant mouthfeel... good length on the nicely clean, dry and textured finale,” and Decanter noted “ripe pear fruit aromas and accents of chalk and cream. The texture is velvety and dense but far from heavy.”

It’s a charming, mineral, white-flowered Chardonnay from a producer whose wines sell out quickly, at a Saint-Aubin price rather than a Chassagne price. Serve it lightly chilled (about 10-12°C), with seared scallops, roast chicken, pan-fried fish, and soft cheeses.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Domaine Simon Colin 2023 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Le Charmois is produced by Domaine Simon Colin in Chassagne-Montrachet, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France, from 100% Chardonnay grown on 0.15 hectares of young vines in the Le Charmois Premier Cru (east-facing, limestone pebbles), farmed organically. Fermented and aged in cask (20% new) on most of its lees. 750ml.

Critics Reviews

Neal Martin, Vinous — 91–93 Points (November 2024):
“The 2023 Saint-Aubin Les Charmois 1er Cru has a perfumed nose with white flowers filtering through the yellow fruit... It’s quite charming, with hints of apricot in the background. This vineyard performed well in 2023 and Colin is quickly becoming one of its best exponents.”

Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy — 90–92 Points (October 2024):
“Mid lemon yellow. Slightly less acidity, maybe, but enough.”

Tasting Profile

Nose
Pale lemon-yellow. White flowers and yellow fruit, with pear, apple, apricot, citrus peel, and crushed stone.

Palate
Medium-bodied, charming, and fresh, with ripe pear, apple, and anise, a velvety texture, and a chalky, mineral line.

Finish
Clean, dry, and textured, with good length and a persistent mineral note.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Seared scallops and pan-fried fish
• Roast chicken
• Shellfish and lobster
• Soft cheeses

Serving Note

Serve lightly chilled, at about 10-12°C.