Chassagne Montrachet

Chassagne-Montrachet is a wine-producing commune on the Côte de Beaune in the Côte-d’Or department and forms part of the Burgundy region. The appellation also includes plots in Remigny in the Saône-et-Loire department. The vineyards are located at around 220 to 325 metres above sea level; the Grands Crus are in the middle part of the slope.

The slope is shaped by Rauracian limestone quarry spoil, a Callovian slope scree, Argovian marl and Bathonian limestone. Depending on the climat, calcareous and stony, marly or sandy soils are found on Jurassic formations. There are also significant marble quarries within the commune; the stone extracted was used, among other things, for flooring at the Trocadéro and for the Louvre Pyramid in Paris.

The appellation was first recognised on 31 July 1937. It comprises 55 climats classified as Premier Cru, as well as the three white Grands Crus Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet and Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet. Still white and red wines are produced. Chardonnay and, if necessary, Pinot Blanc are used for the white wines; the red wines are based mainly on Pinot Noir.

White Chassagne-Montrachet wines are associated with floral, nutty and mineral notes, and in part with buttery or roasted impressions. Red wines show aromas of cherries and red berries, spice, and a tannin-led structure.

The AOC stipulates a planting density of at least 9,000 vines per hectare. Permitted training systems include short pruning and Guyot simple; irrigation is prohibited. The wines must mature for at least until 15 June of the year following the harvest and may be marketed only after 30 June of the same following year. Continuous pressing is not permitted.

The Domaine Ramonet was founded by Pierre Ramonet at the end of the 1920s after his arrival in Chassagne-Montrachet, and acquired its Les Ruchottes plot in 1934. The estate describes its work as sustainable winegrowing with a focus on organic and biodynamic approaches. Its Montrachet is matured in 100 per cent new oak.