Chassagne-Montrachet: The elegance of the great wines of the Côte de Beaune

The AOC Chassagne-Montrachet is one of the most prestigious appellations of  Burgundy and is renowned for its elegant and complex wines, primarily in white but also in red. Located in the heart of the Côte de Beaune, this appellation indeed embodies excellence and boasts an exceptional terroir as well as a centuries-old winemaking tradition.

The wines of Chassagne-Montrachet are distinguished by their finesse, balance, and remarkable aging potential, offering a unique tasting experience, cherished by enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.

So how about discovering all the secrets of this sublime appellation? Let's travel together to the heart of this exceptional terroir !

 

 

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 plantations outside Italy, thus hindering the growth 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 the vineyards of France and Burgundy. The monks, great guardians of viticultural culture, then 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 part of 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 the latter is still today the major red grape variety of Burgundy wines.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the reputation of Chassagne increased thanks to the merchants and nobles who were becoming increasingly interested in Burgundian wines.At that time, the lands and climates of Chassagne continued to be segmented more precisely 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. This difficult period, however, 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 particle from the prestigious Montrachet climate and thus definitively affirming its wine identity.

Finally, in 1937, the AOC Chassagne-Montrachet 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 AOC Chassagne-Montrachet covers 310 hectares of which a little less than half is classified as Premier Cru. More than 70% of the production is dedicated to white wines based on Chardonnay while the remaining 30% is planted with Pinot Noir, allowing for the creation of delicious red wines.

This distribution in production is actually quite recent since, until the 1980s, the AOP mainly produced red wines! It was indeed from this period that Chardonnay began to supplant Pinot Noir due to greater consumer demand. Since then, Chassagne-Montrachet has become primarily renowned for its great white wines, although some beautiful plots continue to produce quality reds.

Chassagne-Montrachet bottles are now highly sought after by enthusiasts, and the prices of local wines are often high.

 

Map of the vineyards of the Côte d'Or in Burgundy

 

The soils of the appellation

Let's now analyze the soils of the AOP Chassagne-Montrachet 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.

The clays and marls present play a more significant role for red wines, offering them roundness and richness.

The slopes of the hills of Chassagne-Montrachet are mainly oriented towards the East and Southeast, ensuring the grapes receive an excellent sun exposure, allowing them to ripen slowly and develop a beautiful aromatic complexity in the local wines. Finally, the vineyards are primarily 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 results in cold winters and hot summers, conditions very favorable to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grape varieties.

Chassagne-Montrachet also experiences moderate precipitation 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 grape ripening period can also pose risks, such as gray rot. 

Let us not forget that Chassagne-Montrachet is a village that benefits from microclimates thanks to the diversity of its terroirs. Each plot, or climate, indeed has its own characteristics depending on its exposure, altitude, and soil composition.

Logically, these differences contribute to the diversity of wines in 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 mountains of Oisans and the Alps. These indeed bring a welcome coolness in summer and help prevent the occurrence of certain humidity-related diseases by facilitating the aeration of the vines.

 

The wines of Chassagne-Montrachet

Let's now take a tour of the different types of cuvées you might encounter as a taster !

 

The white wines of Chassagne-Montrachet

The white wine of Chassagne embodies the elegance and richness of the great Chardonnays of Burgundy. With their golden hue, the white wines here captivate with their fruity flavors, evoking notes of citrus or peach. Delicate aromas of white flowers like hawthorn and acacia may also be present.

On the palate, the Chassagne Chardonnays are ample and generous, combining roundness and liveliness with remarkable length. As it ages, the white wine here takes on deep and complex notes, such as flint, hazelnut, and honey, bringing true complexity to the palate.

The price of these wines reflects their rarity and prestige on a global level.

 

The red wines of Chassagne-Montrachet

Less renowned although it was the majority until the 1980s, the red wine of Chassagne-Montrachet remains nevertheless very pleasant in 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 nature are particularly well-suited to this grape variety. Certain climates such as Les Caillerets, Les Embrazées, and 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 as well as hints of undergrowth, sometimes even subtle animal notes.

The tannic texture evolves over time to become more silky, 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 AOP Chassagne-Montrachet has 55 Premier Crus within its territory, constituting the elite terroirs of the appellation. While it is impossible to detail all of them here, here is a brief summary of some of the most iconic ones.

• Les Caillerets : located at a high altitude (300-350 meters), this climate is one of the most renowned in Chassagne-Montrachet.The wines produced here, mainly white wines based on Chardonnay, are often characterized by a great freshness, a pronounced minerality as well as complex aromas of yellow fruits and white flowers. The wines also have a good aging potential and are known for their elegance and very fine structure.

• Les Chenevottes: covering 12.5 hectares, it is the largest Premier Cru of the appellation. It produces white wines renowned for their elegance and complexity.The limestone terroir and the ideal exposure of the plots here allow the wines to express an 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 climate produces both white and red wine. The white wines are particularly fine and balanced, with aromas of yellow fruits and a 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 climate 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 climate produces high-quality Chardonnay white wines. They are renowned for their freshness, minerality and aromas of white fruits and white flowers. The wines from the "Les Vergers" climate 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 a marked minerality. The white wine here is very refined and has a notable aging potential.

• Le Clos Saint-Jean : although it is smaller in size compared to other Premier Cru climates, Le Clos Saint-Jean is highly appreciated for the finesse and richness of its wines. The cuvées here are distinguished by their minerality, their white fruit aromas, and their good length on the palate.There are also some plots dedicated to Pinot Noir in this climate, but this remains quite rare.

 

You are now well informed about the Premiers Crus of the AOC Chassagne Montrachet. Let's now move on to the Grands Crus !

 

Map of the climates of Chassagne-Montrachet: Villages, Premiers Crus, and Grands Crus

 

The Grands Crus of Chassagne-Montrachet

The commune of Chassagne-Montrachet has 3 Grands Crus. These are considered as separate appellations and represent the elite of the Burgundy and Côte de Beaune terroirs.These are highly sought-after bottles displaying extremely high price levels, varying according to the domain and vintage. Let's explore these 3 iconic terroirs!

 

Grand Cru Le Montrachet

About one-third of this Grand Cru is located in the territory of Puligny-Montrachet, with the rest situated in the commune of Chassagne-Montrachet. Covering an area of 7.8 hectares, this exceptional climate produces among 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 vary between notes of white flowers, stone fruits (peach, apricot), hints of hazelnut or fresh butter, and a mineral touch that gives it a unique structure.

The Montrachet wine is often described as combining elegance and richness, displaying an exceptional aging potential. It can indeed improve over several decades, developing aromas of truffle and honey.

Many renowned producers own plots on the Grand Cru Le Montrachet, such as the 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% are located in Chassagne-Montrachet.

With a total of 11.2 hectares, Bâtard-Montrachet produces rich, structured, and powerful white wines. However, these wines are also endowed with 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 spread over 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 maintaining a lovely freshness.

Although the prices of the bottles remain high here, Bâtard-Montrachet remains one of the most financially accessible grands crus due to its larger area.

Its small area (about 1.5 hectares) makes Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet the smallest grand cru of the Côte de Beaune. This terroir is located almost entirely 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. The latter are rich but have an exceptional freshness, thanks to the minerality provided by the limestone soils as well as the perfect exposure of the plot.

The Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet often evolves with 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 possesses remarkable longevity.

You are now a connoisseur of these elite terroirs of the French vineyard !

Grand Cru Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet

 

What to eat with a Chassagne-Montrachet?

The wine of Chassagne-Montrachet, whether white or red, lends itself to a multitude of gastronomic pairings.Let's see some proposals here that will make your mouth water !

 

With the white wines of Chassagne-Montrachet

The white wine of Chassagne-Montrachet proves to be an ideal companion for many dishes.

With a Chassagne "village" , try pairing it with a grilled fish en papillote (sea bass, sea bream) : the freshness and lightness of your bottle of white wine will perfectly match the tenderness of the fish. A tasting with a roast chicken can also be successful if you opt for a white aged in oak barrels, bringing roundness and indulgence.Finally, the liveliness of a Chassagne Chardonnay will also combine interestingly with the creaminess of fresh goat cheeses !

For a Premier Cru Chardonnay from the appellation, we recommend more noble dishes. Thus, the flavors of a lobster with cream will perfectly harmonize 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 a grilled lobster with butter or a roasted turbot with truffle cream to echo the tertiary notes of an old vintage from the AOP.

In any case, we advise you to serve your Chassagne white wine at a temperature between 11-13°C to ideally savor all its aromatic nuances !

 

Lobster with cream: the perfect pairing with a Premier Cru from Chassagne-Montrachet

 

With the red wines of Chassagne-Montrachet

On the Chassagne-Montrachet red side, pairings with meat-based dishes will be an obvious choice.

Thus, your bottle of Pinot Noir from the AOC will pair very well with grilled lamb, a juicy pork roast, or even curry chicken for a little spicy twist.

Finally, although white wine pairs better with cheeses, try the Chassagne red with an Époisses or a Morbier... you might be surprised !

From a serving temperature perspective, Chassagne-Montrachet red wine is ideally enjoyed between 14-16°C to fully appreciate its aromatic range.

 

What could be better than a good pork roast with a Chassagne-Montrachet red?

 

The domains to remember

While many renowned properties exist in the appellation, such as the Marc Colin, Vincent Girardin, or Bachelet-Ramonet domains, La Cave Éclairée recommends you take an interest in the excellent domain's crus  Au Pied du Mont Chauve !

Located in the heart of the village of Chassagne-Montrachet, this domain belongs to the Picard family.The estate covers 35 hectares, all located in the most beautiful appellations of the Côte de Beaune: Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Saint-Aubin, as well as several Grands Crus like 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 AOP Chassagne-Montrachet! To celebrate this, 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 you thrill.

Cheers !