• Jean-Noël Gagnard

    • Chassagne-Montrachet Blanc 1er Cru Clos de la Maltroye

    At a Glance

    • Size: 0.34 ha (0.83 ac)
    • Variety: Chardonnay
    • Vine Age: Planted in 1990
    • Terroir: Southeast-facing, mid-slope, average of 250m altitude, stony-clay soil with blocks of Bathonian limestone.
    • Viticulture: Organic (Ecocert, 2014), biodynamic methods
    • Vinification: Sorted, pressed and settled for 24-48 hours. Ambient yeast primary and malolactic fermentation in used barrels at 18°C. Racked to the cellar underground to age 18 months on the lees in barrels (33% new). Fined with casein and lightly filtered when necessary.

    Additional Info

    This excellent example of a white Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru was classified as a "Première Cuvée" in 1855. Formerly planted with Pinot Noir, this plot was grubbed up in January 1988 and replanted with Chardonnay in 1990. This change illustrates Chassagne-Montrachet's shift towards white wines dating from the 1980s in the light of the strong worldwide demand for Chardonnay-based wines. Not all the plots in Chassagne-Montrachet are suited to this grape variety, however, and every change must be made in conformity with the appellation laws (to ensure quality) and in full respect of the terroir and its uniqueness. In this vineyard, Chardonnay was only planted after careful consideration, producing its first vintage of white wine in 1992.

    Only 210 cases are produced each year.