Joseph Colin’s Saint-Aubin 1er Cru La Chatenière 2020 is a Chardonnay from one of the appellation’s more steeply pitched, limestone-forward sites. Importer Skurnik notes vines of “45+ year old” age on “a very steep slope with reddish clay and lots of limestone,” with fermentation by ambient yeast and élevage in 500-liter barrels with “10% new oak,” bottled “unfined and unfiltered.” Colin’s broader approach is notably hands-off—no bâtonnage and generally minimal cellar movement—aimed at keeping texture and line rather than layering overt sweetness.

The 2020 growing season in Burgundy was warm and early, yet many whites retained energy and structure. In Colin’s cellar, the harvest began in mid-August, consistent with the vintage’s compressed timetable. In that context, La Chatenière reads as a wine that leans into freshness more than ripeness.

It also drew strong critical praise. Jasper Morris (Inside Burgundy) rated it 93 and calls it “impressive,” remarking on how the aromatics are “less rich than I was expecting from this sunfilled site.” He attributes that restraint to the parcel’s cooler positioning “at the foot of the very steep slope,” giving “a long slow ripening.” His note emphasizes clarity and drive: “All white fruit, good acidity behind, and plenty of length.”

Burghound scored the wine 91, highlighting its intensity and terroir signature: “almost painful intensity to the larger-scaled flavors that brim with minerality and focused power on the driving finale.” The review does flag “appreciable reduction…enough to push the underlying fruit to the background,” advising drinkers to “give this some air.” Burghound also suggests the wine “could use better depth,” but adds that “given how well La Chatenière generally ages, developing more shouldn’t be much of a risk.”

Overall, the 2020 La Chatenière is positioned as a serious, mineral Saint-Aubin—built more on acidity, length, and stony power than overt opulence.