Of the numerous minor appellations in Burgundy's Côte d'Or, Saint-Romain may be the least familiar to Burgundy drinkers. While it's true there are no grand or premier crus vineyards in Saint-Romain, yet, the vignoble is not without some pedigree. The very name of the village is suggestive of the fact that the Celts and Romans, those early proto-Burgundians, were here and the village was one of the very first to see the vine cultivated in Burgundy. Being situated where it is, way up in a gorgeous little valley, just past Auxey-Duresses and almost to the Hautes-Côtes a few kilometers away from the N74, keeps it out of sight and mind of most visitors though its wines are starting to get some real attention. The vineyards there are notably higher than elsewhere in the Côte at 350-400+ meters above sea level and while ripeness may have been an issue in the past, these wines are getting a lot more interesting to the trade with every passing, and warmer, vintage.

The soils here are some of the oldest Jurassic limestones in the Côte d'Or with a few patches of clay where the Chardonnay really shines. The vineyards and village are situated in a striking setting, an  amphitheater below an outcropping of steep cliffs with an excellent due south facing exposition. Lots of active limestone here, much like Puligny-Montrachet, contributes to the fresh minerality of especially the white wines. With only about 7% of the village planted to vines, there are only a handful of producers making a relatively tiny amount of wine (another reason you don't see much of it) and the impressive domaine of Henri & Gilles Buisson is hands down my favorite producer.