The Chassagne-Montrachet AOC is one of the most prestigious appellations in Burgundy and is renowned for its elegant and complex wines, mainly white but also red. Located in the heart of the Côte de Beaune, this appellation truly embodies excellence and boasts an exceptional terroir as well as a centuries-old winemaking tradition.
The wines of Chassagne-Montrachet stand out for their finesse, balance, and remarkable aging potential, offering a unique tasting experience highly prized by enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.
So, how about discovering all the secrets of this sublime appellation? Let’s journey together to the heart of this exceptional terroir !
Summary
- History of the Chassagne-Montrachet Appellation
- The Soils of the Appellation
- The Climate of Chassagne-Montrachet
- The Wines of the Chassagne-Montrachet Appellation
- The Premier Crus of the Chassagne-Montrachet Appellation
- The Grands Crus of Chassagne-Montrachet
- What to Eat with a Chassagne-Montrachet?
- Noteworthy Estates
History of the Chassagne-Montrachet Appellation
Viticulture in Chassagne-Montrachet probably began as early as the Gallo-Roman era, when the Romans planted the first vines in Burgundy. However, in the year 92, Emperor Domitian issued an edict prohibiting new plantings outside Italy, thus hindering the development of Burgundian viticulture. Two centuries later, in 280, this ban was finally lifted by Emperor Probus and the vineyards of Burgundy were able to resume their progress.
In the Middle Ages, Christianity played a central role in the development of vineyards in France and Burgundy. The monks, great guardians of viticultural culture, encouraged the expansion of vines throughout the region and greatly improved viticultural and winemaking techniques.
It was also during this period that Chassagne-Montrachet began to establish itself as a benchmark among the best terroirs for wine. Chassagne, once known as "Cassania," gradually became rooted in the Burgundian landscape, and other neighboring villages, such as Meursault or Puligny, also began to distinguish themselves by their wines.
In 1395, a major turning point occurred when Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, decided to ban the Gamay grape variety from the region in order to develop Pinot Noir. This was a historic moment, as Pinot Noir remains to this day the great red grape of Burgundy wines.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the reputation of Chassagne grew thanks to merchants and nobles who were increasingly interested in Burgundy wines. At that time, the lands and climates of Chassagne continued to be more precisely segmented according to their quality, thus continuing the work that the monks had begun during the Middle Ages.
In the 19th century, the phylloxera crisis severely affected Burgundy and the entire French vineyard. To save their vines, producers grafted their plants onto American rootstocks. However, this difficult period did not diminish the reputation of Chassagne-Montrachet wines, which continued to be highly sought after.
In 1879, the village of Chassagne took the name Chassagne-Montrachet, borrowing this last part from the prestigious Montrachet climat and thus definitively affirming its winegrowing identity.
Finally, in 1937, the Chassagne-Montrachet AOC was created, thus marking the official recognition of its exceptional terroir. Chassagne-Montrachet thus became a must in the world of Burgundy wines.
Today, the Chassagne-Montrachet AOC covers 310 hectares, of which just under half is classified as Premier Cru. More than 70% of production is dedicated to white wines made from Chardonnay, while the remaining 30% is planted with Pinot Noir, allowing for the production of delicious red wines.
This distribution in production is actually quite recent, as until the 1980s, the AOP mainly produced red wines! It was only from this period that Chardonnay began to overtake Pinot Noir due to greater consumer demand. Since then, Chassagne-Montrachet has become mainly renowned for its great white wines, although some beautiful plots continue to produce quality reds.
Bottles of Chassagne-Montrachet are now highly sought after by enthusiasts, and local wine prices are often high.
Map of the Côte d'Or Vineyards in Burgundy
The Soils of the Appellation
Let’s now analyze the soils of the Chassagne-Montrachet AOP vineyard !
The terroir of Chassagne-Montrachet is mainly composed of limestone and clay, giving the wines great minerality and beautiful complexity.
Limestone soils generally provide structure and tension to the wines. These lands, which have built the reputation of Chassagne-Montrachet, allow Chardonnay to express itself with mineral, fruity, and sometimes floral aromas.
Clays and marls present play a more important role for red wines, giving them roundness and richness.
The slopes of the hills of Chassagne-Montrachet are also mainly oriented to the East and South-East, ensuring the grapes excellent sun exposure, thus allowing them to ripen slowly and develop beautiful aromatic complexity in the local wines. Finally, the vines are mainly located between 220 and 325 meters in altitude.
Brown, limestone, and stony soils on Chassagne-Montrachet
The Climate of Chassagne-Montrachet
The climate of the Chassagne-Montrachet appellation plays a crucial role in the quality of its wine. This climate, typical of the Côte de Beaune, is defined as continental and is characterized by cold winters and hot summers, conditions very favorable to the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grape varieties.
Chassagne-Montrachet also experiences moderate rainfall throughout the year, with frequent rains in spring and autumn. These rains can be beneficial for the vine, especially in spring, by providing the necessary moisture for good growth. However, excessive humidity during the ripening period can also pose risks, such as grey rot.
Let’s not forget that Chassagne-Montrachet is a village that benefits from microclimates thanks to the diversity of its terroirs. Each plot, or climat, indeed has its own characteristics depending on its exposure, altitude, and soil composition.
Logically, these differences contribute to the diversity of the wines of the appellation, ranging from fresh and mineral cuvées to more round and opulent wines.
Finally, the winds also play an important role in the climate of Chassagne-Montrachet, particularly those blowing from the Oisans mountains and the Alps. These bring a welcome freshness in summer and help prevent the appearance of certain humidity-related diseases by facilitating the aeration of the vines.
The Wines of Chassagne-Montrachet
Let’s now take a look at the different types of cuvées you may come across as a taster !
The White Wines of Chassagne-Montrachet
The white wine of Chassagne personifies the elegance and richness of the great Chardonnays of Burgundy. With their golden color, the white wines here seduce with their fruity flavors, evoking notes of citrus or peach. Delicate white flower aromas such as hawthorn and acacia may also be present.
On the palate, Chassagne Chardonnays are broad and generous, combining roundness and liveliness with remarkable length. As they age, the white wine here develops deep and complex notes, such as flint, hazelnut, and honey, bringing real complexity to the palate.
The price of these wines reflects their rarity and worldwide prestige.
The Red Wines of Chassagne-Montrachet
Less renowned, although it was the majority until the 1980s, the red wine of Chassagne-Montrachet remains very enjoyable for tasting.
The Pinot Noir plots of the appellation are mainly located in the lower and middle parts of the hills, in areas where the exposure and soil type are particularly well suited to this grape variety. Certain climats such as Les Caillerets, Les Embrazées, or Les Vergers are thus recognized for their quality red wine production within the AOC.
In their youth, these bottles display a beautiful ruby color and offer generous aromas of cherry, wild strawberry, and redcurrant. Over time, the red wines of the AOP gain depth and also develop spicy flavors and touches of undergrowth, sometimes even subtle animal notes.
The tannic texture evolves over time to become silkier, thus offering a red wine that can be enjoyed young for its freshness, or more mature for its aromatic complexity.
The Premier Crus of Chassagne-Montrachet
With a worldwide reputation, the Chassagne-Montrachet AOP has 55 Premier Crus within its territory, constituting the elite terroirs of the appellation. While it is impossible to detail them all here, here is a brief summary of some of the most iconic.
- Les Caillerets : located at a high altitude (300-350 meters), this climat is one of the most renowned in Chassagne-Montrachet. The wines produced here, mainly white wines made from Chardonnay, are often characterized by great freshness, pronounced minerality as well as complex aromas of yellow fruits and white flowers. The wines also have good aging potential and are known for their elegance and very fine structure.
- Les Chenevottes : covering 12.5 hectares, this is the largest Premier Cru of the appellation. It produces white wines renowned for their elegance and complexity. The limestone terroir and ideal exposure of the plots also allow the wines here to express exceptional minerality and freshness, while developing notes of white-fleshed fruits and sometimes slightly buttery touches if the wine has been aged in oak barrels.
- Les Macherelles : This climat produces both white and red wine. The white wines are particularly fine and balanced, with aromas of yellow fruits and beautiful freshness on the palate. The red wines, made from Pinot Noir, are also remarkable, offering aromas of fresh red fruits, with a delicate structure and great freshness.
- Les Embrazées : here is another climat producing both white and red wines. The Chardonnays are of great quality, with a round and rich texture, while the reds are more intense and full-bodied, with notes of black fruits and sometimes a slight spicy touch.
- Les Vergers : this climat produces high-quality white Chardonnay wines. They are renowned for their freshness, minerality and aromas of white fruits and white flowers. The wines from the "Les Vergers" climat can also develop slightly buttery notes if aged in oak barrels.
- Les Ruchottes : this terroir is one of the best for Chardonnay production in Chassagne-Montrachet. It benefits from favorable exposure and limestone soils that promote the production of fine and complex wines, with aromas of stone fruits, white flowers, and pronounced minerality. The white wine here is very refined and has notable aging potential.
- Le Clos Saint-Jean : although smaller in size compared to other Premier Cru climats, Clos Saint-Jean is highly appreciated for the finesse and richness of its wines. The cuvées here stand out for their minerality, white fruit aromas, and good length on the palate. There are also a few plots dedicated to Pinot Noir in this climat, but this remains rather rare.
You are now well informed about the Premier Crus of the Chassagne Montrachet AOC. Let’s now move on to the Grands Crus !
Map of the Chassagne-Montrachet Climats: Villages, Premier Crus, and Grands Crus
The Grands Crus of Chassagne-Montrachet
The commune of Chassagne-Montrachet has 3 Grands Crus. These are considered appellations in their own right and represent the elite terroirs of Burgundy and the Côte de Beaune. These are highly sought-after bottles with extremely high price levels, varying according to the estate and vintage. Let’s discover these 3 iconic terroirs!
Grand Cru Le Montrachet
About a third of this Grand Cru is located in the territory of Puligny-Montrachet, the rest being in the commune of Chassagne-Montrachet. With an area of 7.8 hectares, this exceptional climat produces some of the most prestigious and sought-after white wines in the world.
The wine here is renowned for its complexity, minerality, freshness, and length on the palate. The aromas can range from notes of white flowers, stone fruits (peach, apricot), nuances of hazelnut or fresh butter, and a mineral touch that gives it a unique structure.
The Montrachet wine is also often described as combining elegance and richness, displaying exceptional aging potential. It can indeed improve for several decades and then develops aromas of truffle and honey.
Many renowned producers own plots on the Grand Cru Le Montrachet, such as Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Leflaive, or Château de Chassagne-Montrachet.
Grand Cru Le Montrachet
Grand Cru Bâtard-Montrachet
More than 80% of this Grand Cru is located in the commune of Puligny-Montrachet while the remaining 20% is located in Chassagne-Montrachet.
With a total area of 11.2 hectares, Bâtard-Montrachet produces rich, structured, and powerful white wines. However, these also have great elegance. The wines here are generally less full-bodied than those of the Grand Cru "Le Montrachet".
The aromas of a bottle of Bâtard-Montrachet span yellow fruits (peach, apricot), white flowers, a touch of butter, and notes of hazelnut. The wine is very elegant and has a beautiful acidity allowing it to age while retaining great freshness.
Although bottle prices remain high here, Bâtard-Montrachet remains one of the most financially accessible grands crus due to its larger area.
Grand Cru Bâtard-Montrachet
Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet
Its small area (about 1.5 hectares) makes Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet the smallest grand cru of the Côte de Beaune. This terroir is almost entirely located in the commune of Puligny-Montrachet but a small part is nevertheless located in the commune of Chassagne-Montrachet.
The wines of Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet are often considered more delicate and refined than those from Bâtard-Montrachet. They are rich but exceptionally fresh, thanks to the minerality provided by the limestone soils and the perfect exposure of the plot.
Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet often develops aromas of ripe fruits, white flowers, fresh butter, and hazelnut, while sometimes developing more truffled or spicy nuances as it ages. Although rarer, this wine is exceptionally elegant and has remarkable longevity.
You are now a true connoisseur of these elite terroirs of the French vineyard !
Grand Cru Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet
What to Eat with a Chassagne-Montrachet?
Chassagne-Montrachet wine, whether white or red, lends itself to a multitude of gastronomic pairings. Here are some suggestions that will make your mouth water !
With the White Wines of Chassagne-Montrachet
Chassagne-Montrachet white wine proves to be an ideal companion for many dishes.
With a Chassagne “ village ”, try pairing it with grilled fish en papillote (sea bass, sea bream) : the freshness and lightness of your bottle of white wine will pair perfectly with the tenderness of the fish. A tasting with roast chicken can also be a success if you opt for a white aged in oak barrels, bringing roundness and indulgentise. Finally, the liveliness of a Chassagne Chardonnay will also combine interestingly with the creaminess of fresh goat cheeses !
With a Premier Cru Chardonnay from the appellation, we recommend more noble dishes. Thus, the flavors of a lobster with cream will harmonize perfectly with the aromatic richness of a Premier Cru from Clos Saint-Jean, for example. Pan-seared scallops or Sweetbreads with cream are other suitable options.
Finally, with the Grands Crus of Chassagne, try grilled lobster with butter or roast turbot with truffle cream to echo the tertiary notes of an old vintage of the AOP.
In any case, we recommend serving your Chassagne white wine at a temperature between 11-13°C to ideally enjoy all its aromatic nuances !
Lobster with cream: the perfect pairing with a Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru
With the Red Wines of Chassagne-Montrachet
As for Chassagne-Montrachet red, pairings with meat-based dishes are a natural choice.
Thus, your bottle of Pinot Noir from the AOC will pair very well with grilled lamb, juicy roast pork, or even chicken curry for a little spicy twist.
Finally, although white wine pairs better with cheese, try pairing Chassagne red with Époisses or Morbier…you might be surprised !
In terms of serving temperature, Chassagne-Montrachet red wine is ideally enjoyed between 14-16°C to appreciate its full aromatic palette.
What could be better than a good roast pork with a Chassagne-Montrachet red?
Noteworthy Estates
While many renowned properties exist in the appellation, such as Domaine Marc Colin, Vincent Girardin, or Bachelet-Ramonet, La Cave Éclairée recommends you take an interest in the wines of the excellent estate Au Pied du Mont Chauve !
Located in the heart of the village of Chassagne-Montrachet, this estate belongs to the Picard family. The estate covers 35 hectares, all situated on the finest appellations of the Côte de Beaune: Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Saint-Aubin, as well as several Grands Crus such as Corton-Bressandes or Corton-Charlemagne.
Whether for its white or red wines, the property puts all its heart and expertise into revealing the best of these exceptional terroirs. Among its most sought-after cuvées are notably the Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jean and the Chassagne-Montrachet “ En Pimont ”.
You are now an expert on the Chassagne-Montrachet AOP! To celebrate, all you have to do is open a fine bottle! To do so, feel free to visit our website La Cave Éclairée and choose from our stock the gem that will make your heart sing.
Cheers !
