Chassagne Montrachet, Burgundy: 10 Iconic Bottles, Prices
Chassagne Montrachet is a village appellation in Côte de Beaune (the southern part of the Côte dOr wine region) in Burgundy.
The appellation consists of Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards producing mainly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines.
However, it’s the region’s white wines that are considered some of the best in the world.
Glittering gold in color, these Chardonnay wines have intense fruit flavors, hints of minerality, and toasty notes - a result of their oak barrel fermentation and aging.
In this article, we’ll explore the Chassagne Montrachet region’s exciting wine styles, the 10 best bottles you can try, investment opportunities, and delicious food pairings. We’ll also explore the region’s beautiful vineyards and unique winemaking.
Further reading
- Discover What’s So Special About Burgundy Wines.
- Explore Eight Interesting Facts About Chardonnay Wine.
- More of a red wine fan? Here are some Fun Facts About Pinot Noir.
The Prestigious Chassagne Montrachet And Its Main Wine Styles
The Chassagne Montrachet village appellation was created in 1937.
For much of the 20th century, the region mainly produced red wines. But the increasing fame of the local Chardonnay led the appellation (as well as most of Côte de Beaune) to shift its focus to white wines.
Meanwhile, Côte de Nuits (located north of Côte de Beaune) became famous for its fine Pinot Noir red wines.
Here’s what unique about the two Chassagne Montrachet wine styles:
- White wine: The region predominantly produces still white wines made from 100% Chardonnay. Some Chardonnay-based wines also have a small percentage of Pinot Blanc.
- Red wine: The still red wine is made with mostly Pinot Noir grapes and up to 15% of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Gris. However, most red wines in the appellation are made with 100% Pinot Noir.
10 Best Chassagne Montrachet Bottles
Here are the ten best Chassagne Montrachet bottles every wine enthusiast should try out, along with their tasting notes and prices:
- 1998 Domaine Hubert Lamy Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
- 2002 Domaine Marc Morey & Fils Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru
- 2005 Leroy Domaine d'Auvenay Criots-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru
- 2014 Olivier Leflaive Montrachet Grand Cru
- 2009 Domaine Leroy Chassagne-Montrachet
- 2019 Domaine Leflaive Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru
- 2015 Domaine Bruno Colin En Remilly ($155)
- 2012 Domaine Ramonet Clos Saint-Jean
- 2018 Domaine Ramonet Clos de la Boudriotte Rouge
- 2015 Domaine Ramonet Morgeot Rouge
1. 1998 Domaine Hubert Lamy Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru ($3,083)
The 1998 vintage has floral and lemon zest aromas with hints of honey. The palate is incredibly balanced and has crisp notes of citrus fruit and lemon with a sprinkle of ginger.
2. 2002 Domaine Marc Morey & Fils Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru ($1,101)
The Domaine Marc Morey white wine opens with a freshly-cut grass aroma. The palate is filled with creamy summer fruit flavors and lacy floral notes.
3. 2005 Leroy Domaine d'Auvenay Criots-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru ($32,616)
This white Burgundy wine is buttery with hints of green apple, apricot, and intense minerality. The palate has juicy nectarine and soft vanilla flavors, delicate acidity, and a lingering aftertaste.
4. 2014 Olivier Leflaive Montrachet Grand Cru ($1,393)
This pale lemon-colored wine has an aromatic nose of cream, yogurt, and honeyed citrus notes. The palate’s apricot and almond flavors pair deliciously with rich fish dishes like salmon or tuna.
5. 2009 Domaine Leroy Chassagne-Montrachet ($1,284)
Made from 100% Chardonnay grapes, this Côte dOr wine offers powerful melon and brioche aromas. The palate is just as enticing with its honeydew, sweet apple, and raw cashew flavors.
6. 2019 Domaine Leflaive Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru ($1,409)
The 2019 Domaine Leflaive has powerful citrus fruit, honey, and grapefruit aromas. The palate offers exquisite white chocolate mousse, soft minerality, and creamy pineapple notes.
7. 2015 Domaine Bruno Colin En Remilly ($155)
Pale lemon in color, this great Burgundy vintage has incredibly complex citrus, floral, and vanilla aromas. The palate has white peach and lime flavors and explosive minerality. You’ll also notice some earth notes in the wine’s finish.
8. 2012 Domaine Ramonet Clos Saint-Jean ($200)
Produced by the Clos Saint-Jean Premier Cru vineyard, this red Chassagne Montrachet has a beautiful cherry aroma. The palate has brisk acidity and hints of oak and minerality.
9. 2018 Domaine Ramonet Clos de la Boudriotte Rouge ($86)
Ruby red in color, this Montrachet wine offers a lovely perfumed nose of strawberries, cherries, and raspberries. There are beautiful red fruit flavors on the palate, elaborate tannins and acidity, and some light floral tones.
10. 2015 Domaine Ramonet Morgeot Rouge ($85)
Produced with fruit from the largest Premier Cru vineyard in Chassagne Montrachet, this savory red wine offers a bouquet of juicy plum and red cherry flavors and some smokey notes.
Should You Invest in Chassagne Montrachet Wines?
If you want to invest in fine wines, it’s a good idea to partner with a reliable wine investment company like Vinovest. With their AI-based platform, you can easily buy, store, and sell any fine wine.
Chassagne Montrachet wines have fantastic aging potential. The Grand Cru white wines can be stored in your wine cellar for 10–15 years, while the fine red wines can last more than 15 years.
Additionally, these bottles show a steady price appreciation trend. For example, the 2018 Domaine Hubert Lamy Criots-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru price went up by 179%, from $783 in 2020 to $2,189 in 2021.
These wines also perform well at auctions. For example, six bottles of Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeot 2009 and six Chassagne-Montrachet Les Ruchottes 2009 bottles were sold for $1,641 at a Christie's auction in 2019.
Chassagne Montrachet Food Pairings
Here are some excellent food pairing recommendations for white and red Chassagne Montrachet wine:
- White Chassagne Montrachet wine: Rich fish dishes, black truffle soup, and asparagus with smoked salmon
- Red Chassagne Montrachet wine: Barbecued red meats, beef fillet, and Burgundy beef stew
Chassagne Montrachet: Vineyards And Terroir
The Chassagne Montrachet vine plantings are located in the southern portion of the Côte de Beaune.
There are three Grand Crus:
- Le Montrachet
- Bâtard Montrachet
- Criots Bâtard Montrachet
The appellation consists of 50 Premier Cru vineyards. Some of these Premiers Crus include:
- Les Baudines
- Les Embrazées
- La Romanée
- La Grande Borne
- Les Fairendes
- Bois de Chassagne
- En Remilly
- Les Caillerets
In the south of the appellation, the vineyards have high limestone marl and red gravel concentration, perfect for Pinot Noir plantings.
The soils in the north contain harder marlstone and more refined limestone structures, which suits the Chardonnay grape.
The appellation has a continental climate characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, long winters.
Chassagne Montrachet Winemaking
Here’s how white Chassagne Montrachet is made:
- Pressing: The grapes are pressed immediately after harvest.
- Fermentation: The juice is placed in oak barrels or vats to undergo alcoholic fermentation.
- Secondary fermentation: The wine then undergoes a second malolactic fermentation, where the malic acid in the juice turns to lactic acid, making the wines smoother.
- Aging: The wine is aged in an oak barrel for 14 months. The result is a full-bodied Chardonnay with slight oaky and buttery hints.
Here’s how red Chassagne Montrachet is made:
- Maceration: The red grapes are crushed in bunches and placed into vats for maceration.
- Fermentation: Alcoholic fermentation begins during the maceration process, either naturally or by adding yeast. During this process, the grape skins and pips are broken up and pushed down into the juice to enhance the wine’s color and tannins.
- Pressing: Once fermentation is complete, the wine is pressed and placed into oak barrels or vats for aging.
- Aging: The red wines undergo a second malolactic fermentation while aging. Here, the malic acid in the wine turns to lactic acid, reducing the acidity in the wine.
Add An Exquisite Bottle Of Chassagne Montrachet To Your Collection Now
The Chassagne Montrachet village appellation produces delicious fine red wines and some of the world’s most outstanding white wines.
In fact, some visitors to the appellation consider its white wines to be the world’s most refined expression of Chardonnay.
So, if you’re looking for a prestigious red or white wine for your collection or next special occasion, a bottle of Chassagne Montrachet is definitely the right choice.
Get your hands on an iconic bottle of Chassagne Montrachet through Vinovest today!