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Domaine du Château Chassagne – Montrachet Winery Guide
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Last updated: November 24, 2023
Winery Overview
Château de Chassagne Montrachet is undoubtedly one of the Burgundy region’s most renowned and iconic wine lovers’ addresses. Facing the mystical Grand Cru Vineyard of Le Montrachet – the world’s most expensive and sought-after white wine – the Château has welcomed visitors for centuries and has endured its fair share of turbulent history. Having been knocked about and rebuilt over the years, it is currently under Maison Michel Picard’s stewardship, who has taken the wines to new heights. Today, Château de Chassagne Montrachet produces some of the most exciting and original wines in the appellation due to the family’s meticulous approach to viticulture, including respect for biodynamic principles and the expertise of the director Francine Picard and winemaker Fabrice Lesne. Indeed, the beauty of the Château’s wines is that they are totally individual: reflecting the style and approach to the quality of Michel Picard rather than just the stamp of the appellation.
The Château boasts a long and varied history – its current owners believe that vines were planted on this site in the 9th century. In contrast, the original building was constructed in the 11th century. History records that many nobles inherited the Château over the centuries, including the Ferrieres and Longevilles families. The descendants of the Ferrieres family, the Boutieres, inherited the property in 1600. They kept control until 1709 when Jean Francois de Clermont-Montoison inherited the estate due to marriage with Charles de Boutieres’ daughter. The Château, after that, prospered and managed to survive the onslaught of the French Revolution, although the incumbent owner, Charles de la Guiche, met the guillotine in 1797. The building survived because history tells of the revolutionaries being primarily interested in raiding the cellars to drink the sweet nectar of Chassagne Montrachet! The Château was rebuilt to its present form in 1849 and changed hands several times until Maison Michel Picard brought the property in 1997. At that time, the Château’s reputation was still much respected, but the buildings and winery were quite dilapidated due to a lack of investment by previous owners. Michel Picard, a respected negociant and producer in Burgundy, promptly fell in love with the estate and invested millions in restoring the property to its former glory.
Since Picard took control of Château de Chassagne Montrachet, his dynamic daughter and the estate’s director, Francine, has spearheaded an immense restoration and expansion program. She has overseen the installation of a brand-new winery and restoring the ancient cellars, with a capacity of 1000 barrels. This, however, was merely the beginning of Francine’s grand plans for the estate; in 2003, she embarked upon an unprecedented tourism project for the Château, building a new tasting room akin to the ones found in Napa Valley and opening a series of luxury rooms inside the Château. Styled by some leading Italian designers – including Antonio Citterio and Emilio Nanni – the Château now has some of the most desirable luxury accommodations in the Côte-d’Or. But, at the heart of this iconic property is top-notch winemaking, coupled with an increasing emphasis on biodynamic vineyard management and non-interventionist winemaking, which gives superb wines that display elegance rather than brute power. So, in other words, a highly reliable source of exquisite white and red Burgundy.
Wines produced
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Michel Picard Chassagne Montrachet (White) En Pimont
100% Chardonnay. The must is settled in stainless steel tanks before fermentation in oak barrels for one month. 20% of the wine is then aged in new French oak, 80% in 1-3 year old barrels for a period of 15 months. -
Michel Picard Chassagne Montrachet Les Vergers (Premier Cru)
100% Chardonnay. The must is settled in stainless steel tanks before fermentation in oak barrels for one month. 30% of the wine is then aged in new French oak, 70% in 2 year old barrels for a period of approximately 15 months. -
Maison Picard Chassagne Montrachet Clos Saint Jean (Premier Cru)
100% Chardonnay. The must is settled in stainless steel tanks before fermentation in oak barrels for one month. 20% of the wine is then aged in new French oak, 80% in 1-2 year old barrels for a period of approximately 15 months. -
Maison Picard Chassagne Montrachet (Red) Concis Des Champs (Premier Cru)
100% Pinot Noir. The must is subject to a pre-fermentation cold soak for 8 days before fermentation in stainless steel vats. 30% of the wine is then aged in new French oak, 70% in 1-2 year old barrels for a period of approximately 15 months. -
Maison Picard Chassagne Montrachet Les Chaumes (Premier Cru – red)
100% Pinot Noir. The must is subject to a pre-fermentation cold soak for 8 days before fermentation in stainless steel vats. 30% of the wine is then aged in new French oak, 70% in 1-2 year old barrels for a period of approximately 14 months. -
Maison Picard Saint Aubin Le Charmois (Premier Cru)
100% Pinot Noir. The must is subject to a pre-fermentation cold soak for 8 days before fermentation in stainless steel vats. 30% of the wine is then aged in new French oak, 70% in 1-2 year old barrels for a period of approximately 14 months. -
Maison Picard Saint Aubin En Remilly (Premier Cru)
100% Chardonnay. The must is settled in stainless steel tanks before fermentation in oak barrels for one month. The wine is then aged in a mixture of new, 1 year old and 2 year old French oak for 15 months. -
Maison Picard Puligny Montrachet La Garenne (Premier Cru)
100% Chardonnay. The must is settled in stainless steel tanks before fermentation in oak barrels for one month. The wine is then aged in 50% new French oak and 50% 2 year old oak for 16 months. -
Maison Picard Saint Aubin Pitangerets (Premier Cru - red)
100% Chardonnay. The must is settled in stainless steel tanks before fermentation in oak barrels for one month. The wine is then aged in 50% new French oak and 50% 2 year old oak for 16 months. -
Maison Picard Corton Clos de Fietres (Grand Cru)
100% Pinot Noir. The must is subject to a pre-fermentation cold soak for 8 days before fermentation in stainless steel vats. 80% of the wine is then aged in new French oak, 20% in 1-2 year old barrels for a period of approximately 14 months. The prestige wine of the property, suitable for extended cellaring.
Winery Contact Details
Domaine du Château Chassagne – Montrachet
5 Rue de Château21190 Chassagne Montrachet, Burgundy
France
Email: [email protected]
Tel +(33) 0380 21 98 57
Fax +(33) 0380 21 98 56 Find out more
Facts & Figures
Appellation
AOC Chassagne Montrachet
Founded
1886
Area under Vine
35 hectares
Age of vines
35 years+
Oak barrel origin
French
Winemaker
Fabrice Lesne
Owner
Michel Picard
Production
300,000 bottles per annum
Grape varietals
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Grape Varieties Used by the Winery
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Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape varietal native to the Burgundy wine region in France and one of the most popular varieties worldwide.
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Pinot Noir
Pinot noir is a light-bodied red wine varietal closely related to the Vitis vinifera grape and produces the most sought-after red wines in the world.
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Winery Appellations
Author
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