Blain-Gagnard's 2022 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru carries the weight and mineral intensity of great white Burgundy. Honeyed and broad-shouldered, with the tautness that makes these wines built for the cellar. Pure Chardonnay, pure terroir: this is Bâtard-Montrachet at its most compelling.
Winemaker Notes
A great Bâtard-Montrachet is a wine of volume, weight, and power with rich honeyed flavors, broad texture, and with an intensity of fruit and minerals. It is sometimes compared to the powerful wines of Corton-Charlemagne but Bâtard-Montrachet always has more tautness and tension, making a great wine for cellaring ten years or more.
About the Producer
Domaine Blain-Gagnard was formed in 1980 when Jean-Marc Blain (a Sancerrois) married Claudine Gagnard, youngest daughter of Jacques and Marie-Josèphe Gagnard of Domaine Gagnard-Delagrange. The couple runs this venerable domaine with the help of their son Marc-Antonin. Jean-Marc Blain and Claudine Gagnard met while they were both studying oenology at Dijon. The estate's vineyards come mainly from grandparents and other relatives of Claudine, along with a few purchases. The vines are planted in Chardonnay (55%) and the rest in Pinot Noir, with a small parcel of Passetoutgrain.