Chassagne-Montrachet

In the world of wine, the name Montrachet is something of an indulgence sensation. The legendary Burgundy vineyard is part of the municipality of Chassagne-Montrachet, which has even more phenomenal plants to offer.

Where does a Chassagne-Montrachet come from?

Welcome to the small-scale Burgundy in France! In the large area of Côte d'Or, you will find the subregion of Côte de Beaune in the very south. Here, the municipality of Chassagne-Montrachet, with its 339 hectares of vineyards, borders Santenay. Four hectares of this belong to the legendary Grand Cru vineyard of Montrachet. However, the Grand Cru is not only located in Chassagne-Montrachet. Another four hectares belong to the neighbouring municipality of Puligny-Montrachet. The two municipalities also share the Grand Cru Bâtard-Montrachet.

The climate in Chassagne-Montrachet is moderately continental. Summers can be very warm, while winters are often bitterly cold. Because the commune is located in the more southern part of Burgundy, the winegrowers here do not have to struggle with late frosts as regularly as, for example, in the northern Chablis. However, hail and a wet autumn can certainly cause problems. Nevertheless, experienced winegrowers manage to produce excellent wines in Chassagne-Montrachet even in difficult years.

Which crus are there in Chassagne-Montrachet?

In addition to Montrachet and Bâtard-Montrachet, there is a third Grand Cru, Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet. This covers 1.6 hectares and does not have to be shared with any neighbouring municipality.

In addition, Chassagne-Montrachet has 19 premier cru vineyards, spread over a total of 150 hectares. The premiers crus include, among others, La Romanée, Les Charmes, Les Grandes Ruchottes, Les Grands Clos and Tête du Clos. There is also a generic appellation with Chassagbe-Montrachet Rouge and Chassagne-Montrachet Blanc. These wines usually offer fantastic value for money. And then, of course, there is the Village appellation of Chassagne-Montrachet, which covers around 180 hectares.

What grapes go into a Chassagne-Montrachet?

Montrachet is synonymous with white wine. In Burgundy, when people talk about the great wines, they actually mean a single grape variety. Namely Chardonnay. This also applies to the Grand Cru wines. A Montrachet is always a Chardonnay. But in general, red wine is also produced in Chassagne-Montrachet. This is because the Pinot Noir grape variety accounts for about half of the vineyard area. Depending on whether it is a Grand or Premier Cru, there are very precise guidelines in Chassagne-Montrachet as to which grape variety may be grown where.

What does a wine from Chassagne-Montrachet taste like?

Although Chassagne-Montrachet is quite small, the taste of the different vines cannot be generalised. This is not only due to the two wine colours, but also depends on other factors. The Grand Cru Montrachet, for example, faces east – and not south. In addition, the Montrachet soil is lighter and has a chalk vein running through it. This produces an incredibly concentrated and complex Chardonnay that can mature for ten or more years. This is a truly unique style.

However, since the soil of Chassagne-Montrachet is generally characterised by heavy marl, you can still discover certain similarities in the other wines. The white wines are generally very full-bodied and expressive and have a steely power, while the reds tend to be earthy and full-bodied. They all have elegance in common, although this can present itself very differently depending on the cru. From fine and full of finesse to loud and insistent, everything is actually there. But that is exactly what makes it so exciting to take a closer look at the different sites and qualities. Well-known producers include Bernard Moreau, Verget, Marc Colin, Michel Niellon and Colin-Deléger.

What food goes with a Chassagne-Montrachet?

Whether Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, the wines from Chassagne-Montrachet, with their intense complexity, are excellent food companions. Tender poultry with a citrus or creamy sauce or skilfully grilled noble fish go well with the white wines, as do quiche or pumpkin vegetables. A Pinot Noir from Chassagne-Montrachet, on the other hand, is a match made in heaven with roast duck breast or fillet of beef.

Let yourself be inspired by the variety of flavours and high quality of wines from Chassagne-Montrachet and discover the unique vintages at Best of Wines now.