Location and terroir
Chassagne-Montrachet is a commune and village appellation in the Côte de Beaune in Burgundy. The appellation area also includes plots in Remigny in the department of Saône-et-Loire. The vineyards are situated on a broad slope at roughly 220 to 340 metres above sea level. Their soils range from gravelly limestone through marl to sandy soils on a Jurassic base.
Appellation and wines
The Chassagne-Montrachet appellation has existed since 1937 and comprises 55 officially recognised Premier Cru climats. These include, among others, Clos Saint-Jean and Les Champs Gains. It produces both white and red wines. The white wines made from Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc are described as structured, rounded and mineral; the red wines are based mainly on Pinot Noir and show red fruit, substance and tannins.
History and marble
Historical sources describe Chassagne-Montrachet as a Gallo-Roman settlement, documented in 886 under the names Cassaneas or Cassania. Vine growing is locally dated to around 280 AD. The commune also has extensive marble quarries; Chassagne stone was used, among other things, for buildings and monuments such as the Louvre pyramid.
Vine growing
The appellation regulations prescribe a planting density of at least 9,000 vines per hectare as well as permanently grassed headlands. Short pruning cuts and the simple Guyot cut are permitted, among other methods. At Domaine Ramonet, the grapes are hand-harvested, the soils are worked and yields are monitored; the wines traditionally mature for around twelve to 18 months in oak barrels, depending on the appellation.
