Why it matters
The producer
Caroline Lestimé founded Maison Caroline Lestimé in 2016 as an extension of her work, giving her room to explore her own creativity through a separate venture. Her winemaking philosophy brings terroir into the glass, with the image of a classic Burgundy wine guiding the work.
At Domaine Jean-Noël Gagnard, Caroline follows lutte raisonnée, an essentially organic and noninterventionist approach. The domaine has worked organically in the vineyard since 2010. Maison Caroline Lestimé remains a separate enterprise, with its own parcel sourcing and cellar work.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
The Saint-Romain village name appears in Maison Caroline Lestimé’s Côte de Beaune range, within Burgundy. The named bottle is Saint-Romain Sous la Velle, a white wine from the 2022 vintage.
The Maison also sources grapes from Saint-Romain, Chassagne-Montrachet and other appellations. Its place names therefore come from the small vineyard parcels chosen for each wine.
Wines to know
The range in view
Maison Caroline Lestimé buys grapes from a variety of small vineyard parcels and vinifies each parcel separately. The whites are barrel fermented and aged on lees with very little battonage. Lees ageing allows the wine to remain in contact with the yeast sediment after fermentation, adding texture while the limited battonage keeps the handling restrained.
The reds undergo oak ageing for up to 18 months in cool underground cellars. The 2022 Saint-Romain Sous la Velle Maison Caroline Lestimé is a white Côte de Beaune wine. On the palate, it shows apricot and orange notes, high acidity and a very long finish.