Famous worldwide for their white wines, Chassagne-Montrachet has long treasured history, wine traits and traditions that will contemplate you. Previously, the commune used to be known as Chassagne-le-Haut, and was later changed to Chassagne-Montrachet in 1879. Subtle, rich and highly aromatic, a glass of Chassagne-Montrachet will have a hold of your senses from the very first sip. Follow our guide to Chassagne-Montrachet to explore the Burgundy wine region and learn more. Where is Chassagne-Montrachet?Settled at the foot of the famous Montrachet, with the neighboring village of Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet is a village in the Côte de Beaune sub-region of Burgundy wine region. Chassagne-Montrachet has three vineyards: Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet, and Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet, that produce the most expensive, sought for and long-lived white wines the world has known. The output ratio of red and white wines in the area is roughly 35:56. Long Before at Chassagne-MontrachetIn the middle ages, the area was called Mont Rachet. The term refers to bare mountains and this is exactly what the lands looked like. Fortunately, the potential of this unparalleled land was soon realized and utilized. The quarries of Chassagne - Montrachet have existed for several centuries. Many buildings were made in the area using this stone including historical monuments and buildings of great significance. Alas, many of these quarries were exploited after the war of 1914. Nevertheless, they have been able to withstand the turmoil and stand proudly to this day. While Chassagne - Montrachet is well known for both its red wines and white wines, the white wines of the area are historically renowned. Premium Vineyards of Chassagne-MontrachetThere are three Grand Cru vineyards within Chassagne-Montrachet, where Montrachet is the most well-known, and 50 Premier Cru vineyards.The appellation also shares its territory with that of Puligny, which carries the most sought-after white Grands Crus in the world. These are Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, Bastard-Montrachet, Bienvenues-Bastard-Montrachet, and Criots-Bastard-Montrachet. The AOC Chassagne-Montrachet has two grape varieties located side by side, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which give excellent white wines and red wines, respectively. They are distributed more or less equitably over the area, for a total production of 1,500,000 liters annually. Rich Soil Through Natural LogarithmChardonnay and Pinot Noir are the main grape varieties of Chassagne - Montrachet. These grape varieties benefit from the continental climate: warm, dry summers and cool, extended winters.Vineyards of Chassagne-Montrachet appellation cover 3.05 square kilometers and at an altitude of between 220 and 325 meters. The majority of the hillside soils are very old, going as old as -201 million to -145 million years. However, towards the plain, one can find that the soil is more recent and only as old as 2 million years with an erosion of upper layers. The vineyard sites of the south of Chassagne - Montrachet and the north have a distinctive difference in their soil. The south tends to have a higher concentration of limestone marl and red gravel, making the south a better choice for the Pinot Noir. The north is known to have a finer limestone structure and harder marlstone making it more suitable for Chardonnay. Wine Characteristics of Chassagne-MontrachetChassagne-Montrachet is one of the most distinctive wines from Burgundy. The white wines of Chassagne-Montrachet are made of Chardonnay. Chardonnay’s bouquet is dominated by aromas of hawthorn, acacia, and honeysuckle, mixed with verbena and hazelnut. With age, they strengthen their minerality (flint) and honey notes of ripe pear. On the palate, they are persistent in fat and mellow accord. These are wines that win to age several years.Chassagne-Montrachet Pinot Noir is a very elegant wine with purplish highlights. This Pinot Noir will give you hints of cherry, strawberry, gooseberry, raspberry and your favorite red fruits. Their flesh is delicious, with tannins a little austere when young, which appear with age, a robust and tasty structure.
