Domaine Comte Senard.
At Domaine Comte Senard in Aloxe-Corton, a traditional French lunch of duck terrine, potatoes dauphinoise and an exceptional beef bourguignon provided a fitting interlude in a visit that took in family history, a glimpse of the vineyards and a look inside the domaine’s historic cellars.
Six wines, spanning more than a decade of vintages, accompanied the meal. The standout was the 2022 Corton Grand Cru alongside the beef, a pairing that demonstrated just how compelling Burgundy can be at the table.
Founded in 1857 by Jules Senard, the domaine has remained closely connected to the vineyards surrounding Aloxe-Corton, in the Côte de Beaune. Its original holding, Corton Clos des Meix, continues to play a defining role in the estate’s identity.
The estate vineyard.
Today, the family farms approximately 10 hectares across several appellations, including premier cru and grand cru sites. Lorraine Senard took over from her father Philippe in 2005, and her brother Mathieu joined the business in 2020, bringing another generation into the family enterprise.
The hill of Corton is unusual in the Côte de Beaune for producing both red and white grand cru wines. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grow across a patchwork of vineyards whose variations in soil, elevation and exposure contribute to very distinct expressions.
Corton Hill in Burgundy.
For Comte Senard, understanding those differences is central to the work. The estate’s portfolio includes acclaimed sites such as Les Bressandes and Les Perrières, alongside Clos des Meix, a monopole owned exclusively by the domaine.
The family’s approach combines respect for established practices with changes in vineyard management. Its vineyards have been certified organic since the 2023 vintage, reflecting a commitment to soil health and more considered cultivation.
Enzo guided us through our tasting explaining all the vineyard parcels.
In the cellar, choices such as the proportion of whole clusters used during fermentation are adapted to the vintage and the condition of the fruit. Oak maturation is handled with similar attention, supporting the wines without obscuring the characteristics of their origins.
The tasting began with the 2024 Meursault “Sous la Velle,” a Chardonnay from one of Burgundy’s most recognizable white-wine appellations. The 2022 Aloxe-Corton Premier Cru “Les Valozières” followed, introducing Pinot Noir from a premier cru site before the tasting moved into grand cru territory. The 2016 Corton “Les Perrières” was followed by the 2013 Corton Grand Cru “Les Bressandes,” providing an opportunity to consider how the wines evolve with bottle age. The 2020 Clos des Meix brought the focus back to the estate’s historic vineyard, before the 2022 Corton Grand Cru, made from Chardonnay, offered a final reminder of the region’s versatility.
The Comte Senard Beef Bourguignon.
The lunch gave the wines a context that a tasting alone couldn’t provide. Duck terrine was a natural match for Burgundy’s reds, while the potatoes dauphinoise added richness to the meal. But the beef bourguignon stole the show. Slow-cooked and deeply savoury, it had the substance to complement the lineup of Pinots, while the wines brought freshness and definition to the dish. It was among the finest food and wine pairings imaginable, and a welcome reminder that these wines were made to be enjoyed with food, not simply assessed in a glass.
After lunch, a walk to see the estate vineyard led to the cellar, where old barrels and bottles rested among stone walls marked by age and moisture. The mould-covered surfaces and cool, humid atmosphere offered a glimpse of traditional Burgundy cellaring, far removed from the polished presentation of a modern tasting room.
Inside the historic cellars at Comte Senard.
Comte Senard’s appeal lies in the relationship between family history, individual vineyards and the decisions that shape each vintage. The estate’s roots are firmly planted in one corner of Burgundy, but its wines show the range that can emerge from a relatively small area.
The cellar tour added historical depth to the visit while the lunch provided a most memorable moment. And if the day offered one enduring lesson, it was that understanding Burgundy doesn’t need to begin with a map or a classification chart. Sometimes, the best place to start is with a plate of beef bourguignon and the right bottle.
Tasting Notes
2024 Comte Senard Mersault “Sous la Velle”
2024 Comte Senard Mersault “Sous la Velle”.
Golden colour with a slight green tint. A lovely Mersault that’s a slightly fresher take on the appellation. Flavours of lemon/lime dominate with secondary notes of pear and other stone fruits. The body is medium and provides enough texture to speak to its origins but allows a crisp freshness be the focal point. Hints of apricot and toasted notes add to the complexity of this very tasty white wine. Very Good+
2022 Comte Senard Aloxe Corton “Les Valozieres” Premier Cru
Medium to dark red in colour. This is a beautiful introduction to what this house is capable of producing with its red wines. This vineyard sits just below the more famous “Les Bressands” Grand Cru on the Hill of Corton but this wine is not far behind it it in terms of quality. Burgundy is famous for its ability to align power with finesse which this wine achieves in a large measure. Flavours of dark cherries gain added complexity from secondary notes of dried herbs, forest floor and cracked pepper. Hints of vanilla come out with a bit of swirling. This wine is intense and already shows great sophistication at this young age. Excellent
2016 Comte Senard Corton “Les Perierres” Grand Cru.
2016 Comte Senard Corton “Les Perierres” Grand Cru
A Grand Cru red Burgundy with a decade of bottle age-our idea of heaven! Medium dark red colour with just a slight fade at the rim. Beautiful nose of red cherry and vanilla. The medium body and medium+ tannins create a mouthfeel that is velvety and decadent. A wonderfully complex wine with a panoply of different flavours: dark cherry, raspberry, and blackberry are joined with subtle notes of minerals, baking spices and black pepper. Still youthful, this was a joy to drink but will develop further for probably another decade or more. Excellent+
2013 Comte Senard Corton “Les Bressandes” Grand Cru
2013 Comte Senard Corton “Les Bressandes” Grand Cru
This wine was truly remarkable. If Clos du Roi is the King of Corton, then Bressandes must be its Queen. This wine delivers elegance and finesse on a level that is hard to describe. “Like dragging a silk scarf across a satin bed sheet” as a good friend of ours liked to say. Medium body with medium tannins matched by an intense flavour profile which together create a sensation of near perfect balance. Flavours of red and black cherry intermingle with subtle hints of baking spices, forest and earth notes, mineral and hints of black pepper on the long finish. A texture that is at once soft and velvety but precise and defined at the same time. Extraordinary
2020 Comte Senard Corton “Clos des Miex” Grand Cru
2020 Comte Senard Corton “Clos des Miex” Grand Cru.
The Clos de Miex loosely translates as the “walled vineyard next to the house”. This gently sloping vineyard sits adjacent to the winery building on their property. It is a “Monopole”, meaning it has just a single owner, a relative rarity in Burgundy where most of the better plots have numerous owners. Dark red right to the rim with medium+ tannins and medium+ body. This a powerful Burgundy with great intensity, yet it does not come across as at all heavy. It manages to contain all that power and deliver it with such precise balance that the texture of the wine evokes descriptors like plush and velvety. A highly complex wine, even at this young age showing cherry, raspberry, baking spice and lots of cracked pepper on the long finish. Remarkable today, but the best is yet to come for those with cold, deep cellars! Extraordinary
2022 Comte Senard Corton Blanc Grand Cru
We finished our spectacular lunch and tasting with this very sophisticated wine. Is there any better way to finish a meal than with a glass of white Burgundy? We don’t think so. Grapes for this wine come from a small plot on the Clos des Miex, near Corton Charlemagne. Medium gold in colour. With medium+ body and medium acid. The fruit profile is a mixture of melon (honeydew) and various orchard fruits showing a fairly ripe profile. With a bit of air we pick notes of pear, dried herbs (thyme) and white pepper on the long finish. Excellent
One of the buildings onsite now turned into a guest house.
1 rue des Chaumes, 21420 Aloxe-Corton
T: +33 (0)3 80 26 41 65
H: Tuesday to Saturday: 10:00am-6:00pm
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