Situated to the south of the Côte de Beaune, the village of Chassagne—whose name is derived from “Cassanus,” meaning “oak”—was authorized in 1879 to add the name of its most prestigious climat to its own. Montrachet was originally a compound word, Mont-Rachet, also known as Mont-Rachaz or Mont-Chauve because of the sparse vegetation growing on the hillside.
The Chassagne-Montrachet AOC covers a defined area of 339 hectares and comprises 19 Premier Cru-classified climats. It shares the treasure of its white grands crus with Puligny. Its clay-limestone terroir continues the Puligny trend, with significantly deeper soils and a gradual reappearance of limestone formations favorable to red wines.
Chassagne-Montrachet wines are renowned for their elegance and finesse. The white wines of Chassagne-Montrachet, made from Chardonnay grapes, are distinguished by their richness, aromatic complexity, and lovely minerality. The Premiers Crus of Chassagne-Montrachet are full-bodied characterized by notes of honey, white flowers, and ripe fruit. The region also produces red wines made from Pinot Noir which offer fruity flavours and a balanced structure. These wines are prized for their ability to age while retaining their freshness and character.
The village’s star attraction is the legendary Montrachet vineyard (4 ha), whose quality remains consistent regardless of its origins. Whether from Chassagne or Puligny, it is always equally magnificent. The Bâtard-Montrachet (5.8 ha), is another vineyard where the boundary is purely administrative. The Bâtard of Chassagne remains is a full-bodied wine that ages beautifully and pairs so well with shellfish in sauce. The Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet (1.6 ha) is the only Grand Cru located exclusively within the commune of Chassagne-Montrachet. The Criots forms a southern extension of the Bâtard-Montrachet, with the same southeast exposure and rich soils. This results in a wine that is ultimately very similar but which often matures earlier.
The Ramonet estate boats a veritable constellation of Premiers Crus and Grands Crus. A leading light in the Montrachet region, the estate was founded in the 1930s by Pierre Ramonet, whose wines conquered America. It was subsequently managed by his son André, and then by his grandsons Noël and Jean-Claude. The wines of Domaine Ramonet undoubtedly have character. Powerful and rich, they are full-bodied and brilliant on the palate. The Premiers Crus and Grands Crus age magnificently in the bottle. While not as famous as the whites, Domaine Ramonet’s red wines, vinified in a traditional style, are often of remarkable quality.
Photo: Jean-Claude Ramonet and his daughters Clarisse and Anne-France
This vineyard was set ablaze in 1476 by the troops of Louis XI in retaliation for the loyalty of its lords to Marie of Burgundy. It did not experience real growth until the 17th century. At that time, the seigneury of Chassagne was attached to the religious community of Chagny, which was made up of Cistercian monks and Benedictine nuns from Maizières.
Through marriage, ownership of this exceptional terroir passed to the de La Guiche family, sparing it from the sale of national assets following the French Revolution. It was from this period onwards that the reputation of Montrachet wines grew significantly. In 1728, Abbé Claude Arnoux noted in Vin de France — recognised as the first book on Burgundy wines — that Montrachet wine was the ‘most intriguing and most delicate‘.
Like many villages in the region, Chassagne-Montrachet charms visitors with its winegrowers’ houses, the Saulx fountain washhouse built in the early 19th century, its imposing town hall and school—also dating from the 19th century—and the Château de Maltroye. Restored by Michel Picard, the U-shaped château dates back to the 11th century. It sits atop cellars from the 11th and 14th centuries and still features buildings from the 16th century.
As a bit of trivia, Michelle Bachelet, the first female President of the Republic of Chile, is a descendant of a resident of the village of Chassagne-Montrachet. She actually visited the town on May 30, 2009, to follow in the footsteps of her ancestor, Louis Bachelet.
Chassagne-Montrachet is an exceptional place worth discovering, where heritage and terroir blend harmoniously.
