Alex Moreau

Five generations in Chassagne

The History of the Moreau Family in Chassagne-Montrachet dates back to 1809, when Auguste Moreau built a cellar opposite the Les Maltroies vineyards and began cultivating several hectares of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. This cellar remains the foundation of the estate to this day. For five generations now, the family has continued to make wine on this land. The estate took on its final form in the 1930s, during the time of Marcel Moreau. He acquired most of the vineyards that the family still cultivates today. His son Bernard joined the business in the early 1960s, when he was 14 years old, and in 1977 his name appeared on the labels. In 1995, Alex joined his father, and the domaine was renamed “Bernard Moreau & Sons.” In 2020, following the departure of his older brother Benoît, Alex assumed full responsibility for management. The 2021 vintage was the first to be bottled under the “Domaine Alex Moreau” label. A new label, the same cellar, the same family. During this generational transition, the weather conditions were far from ideal. In the spring of 2021, devastating frosts struck the entire Côte de Beaune region, resulting in a sharp decline in the harvest. In addition, almost at the same time, a long-term lease expired, significantly reducing Alex’s holdings. Nevertheless, he did not give up, and the 2022 and 2023 vintages were widely recognized as having restored the estate to its former glory.

What's left, and where it sits

Due to the expiration of an 18-year farm management contract, about 5 hectares were returned to the owner, and with that, he lost most of the vineyards used to produce his Aligoté, Passetoutgrains, and Chassagne-Montrachet Villages (both white and red). Currently, the vineyards managed by this estate cover about 6 hectares, and starting with the 2025 harvest, three new Monthélie appellations will be added: Monthélie Blanc, Monthélie 1er Cru Les Duresses Blanc, and Monthélie 1er Cru Les Clous Rouge. Most of the estate is located on the golden slopes of the Côte de Beaune, within the village of Chassagne-Montrachet. The “Village” wines are produced from grapes grown on plots surrounding this commune. The “Premier Cru” wines include "Les Maltroies" (located directly across from the original cellar, built in 1809), “La Cardeuse,” and “Grandes Ruchottes,” located at the top of the slope. In addition, he has a small plot in Bâtard-Montrachet, a Grand Cru, that is shared between Chassagne and Puligny.

The Chassagne slope

Chassagne-Montrachet is located in the southern part of the Côte de Beaune, and its slopes lend both white and red wines their unique character. Although Chardonnay is currently the dominant variety, this village has a long history of growing Pinot Noir, and the Moreau family continues to produce red wine on plots with suitable soil. The “Vieilles Vignes Rouge” wine is made from grapes grown on old vines planted before the modern trend toward white wines took hold.

"Grandes Ruchottes" is located on the upper part of the slope, with fine, stony soil; it produces a white wine characterized by particularly pronounced minerality and a full-bodied flavor, even by the standards of this appellation. "Les Maltroies" is situated at a low elevation above sea level, on fertile soil, and exhibits a richer flavor even in its early stages. The “Clos Saint-Jean” plot is planted with Pinot Noir, which is a rarity for a Chassagne Premier Cru and serves as a reminder of what this village once was like. “Bâtard-Montrachet,” located on the border with Puligny, produces wines with the greatest depth and concentration among all these vineyards.

Hands off, and increasingly unfiltered

Alex Moreau's approach to winemaking is deliberately understated. The style of this estate is often described as “non-interventionist,” and that is an accurate description. He strives to fully reveal the character of the fruit and the region, keeping intervention to a minimum. The white wines are full-bodied and suitable for aging, while the reds are characterized more by their sensual flavor than by their power.

One of the changes that has taken place under Alex’s leadership has been the extension of aging periods and an increasing move away from filtration before bottling. Although this results in some loss of initial clarity, the wine acquires a richer texture, and over time in the bottle, its range of flavor expressions expands. This aligns with the estate’s philosophy of creating wines that reward the patient consumer, rather than revealing their full character immediately upon release.

The Pinot Noir red wine has a medium body, a silky texture, floral aromas (peony, rose petals), a taste of red fruits, and a barely perceptible saltiness in the finish. The white wines are rich yet refined, and those from the best plots can age for more than 10 years.

The range we list

Chassagne-Montrachet plays a central role in Alex Moreau’s winemaking, in both his white and red wine lines. The white wine range starts with “Village” wines, moves through several “Premier Cru” wines, and culminates in the top-tier “Grand Cru” wines. Since the end of the fermage lease, bottles of “Village” wines have become even harder to come by than before, and the 2025 vintage lineup will feature not only new white wines but also red wines from Monthélie. "Les Maltroies" is, one might say, a classic Chassagne wine. “La Cardeuse” is an unusual wine that few people know about: it’s a Premier Cru red from Chassagne. And “Vieilles Vignes Rouge” is a wine that quietly stands out for its unique character, even among the “Villages” red wines of the Côte de Beaune.