Domaine des Croix, Saint Romain Blanc Combe Bazin, 2023

Saint-Romain is the high, cool corner of the Côte de Beaune that savvy drinkers turn to for fresh, mineral whites — and Combe Bazin is David Croix's project there, a hectare of Chardonnay on shallow soils at around 350m altitude. The elevation keeps everything bright and tense. Croix, who founded the domaine in 2005 after years in the Camille Giroud cellar, farms this organically and treats it about as naturally as he can: ambient-yeast fermentation, a year in used 500L barrels, and no added sulfur. The result is pure, energetic Chardonnay with real cut. 2023 brought ripe fruit to balance that natural freshness. Serve it not too cold and it'll show beautifully — a smart, characterful white that overdelivers.