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Montrachet

Grand Cru site or appellation in the Côte de Beaune area, the southern part of the Côte d'Or area in the French region of Burgundy. It covers eight hectares of vineyards, almost exactly half of which are shared by the two neighbouring municipalities of Chassagne-Montrachet (here the site is called "Le Montrachet") and Puligny-Montrachet (here "Montrachet"). The site has been known since the 13th century and was known as Mons Rachicencis, Mont Rachaz, Mont Rachat and from the 15th century as Montrachat. Towards the end of the 19th century, the camp name was added to the commune name by these communes. The soil consists of a 50-centimetre-thick overlay of brown limestone weathered rubble at the bottom. The site is completely enclosed by a wall (Clos).

Only pure white wines from the Chardonnay variety are produced here. They are among the best white wines in France and the world. A Montrachet was one of the favourite wines of the famous writer Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870), who remarked overwhelmingly that Montrachet white wines should be enjoyed "kneeling and with bared head". They are characterised by a honey-like aroma with flavours of peach and apricot. The wines from the predominantly south-facing sites of Chassagne are considered more powerful and fatter, those from Puligny finer and more elegant. The less important red wines are produced purely from Pinot Noir.

In the area of the two communes, however, there are another four vineyards classified as Grand Cru with the name part "Montrachet", which are located around the Grand Cru vineyard Montrachet (see map below). These are Bâtard-Montrachet, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet and Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet. In addition, there are still many Premier Cru sites in the two communal areas, which is the second quality level within the Burgundy classification. All wines from the other areas are marketed under the communal AOC designations Chassagne-Montrachet or Puligny-Montrachet. This illustrates the complicated system of quality classification in Burgundy.

Of the five Grands Crus, two share the communes of "Montrachet" or "Le Montrachet" (8 ha) and "Bâtard-Montrachet" (12 ha). In the film "The Silence of the Lambs", Hannibal Lecter orders a Bâtard-Montrachet in a restaurant after his escape. The five Grands Crus apply exclusively to white wines. The best-known producers of wines from Grand Cru and/or Premier Cru sites in one or both communes include Amiot-Bonfils, Auvenay, Belland, Bichot (Domaine du Pavillon), Boillot, Bouchard Père et Fils, Carillon, Colin, Déléger, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Joseph Drouhin, Gagnard, Jadot, Lafon, Laguiche, Louis Latour, Domaine Leflaive, Morey, Niellon, Pernot, Ramonet, Sauzet and Thénard.

Chassagne Montrachet

The area covers 340 hectares of vineyards. Red wines are produced to 60%. The three Grands Crus are Bâtard-Montrachet (6 ha), Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet (1.6 ha) and Le Montrachet (4 ha).

Chassagne-Montrchet - Lagenkarte

According to the Burgundy classification, the second quality level of the many Premier Cru sites comprises around 150 hectares of vineyards. These are Abbaye de Morgeot, Blanchot Dessus, Bois de Chassagne, Cailleret, Champs Jendreau, Chassagne, Chassagne du Clos Saint-Jean, Clos Chareau, Clos Pitois, Clos Saint-Jean, Dent de Chien, En Cailleret, En Remilly, En Virondot, Ez Crets, Es Crottes, Francemont, Guerchere, La Boudriotte, La Cardeuse, La Chapelle, La Grande Borne, La Grande Montagne, La Maltroie, La Romanée, La Roquemaure, Les Baudines, Les Boirettes, Les Bondues, Les Brusonnes, Les Champs Gain, Les Chaumées, Les Chaumes, Les Chenvottes, Les Combards, Les Commes, Les Embrazées, Les Fairendes, Les Grandes Ruchottes, Les Grands Clos, Les Macherelles, Les Murées, Les Pasquelles, Les Petites Fairendes, Les Petits Clos, Les Places, Les Rebichets, Les Vergers, Morgeot (54 ha), Petangeret, Tête du Clos, Tonton Marcel, Vide Bourse, Vigne Blanche and Vigne Derrière.

The Village appellation of Chassagne Montrachet covers around 180 hectares of vines. An alternative appellation exclusively for red wines is Chassagne-Montrachet-Côte de Beaune.

Puligny-Montrachet

This area covers 235 hectares of vineyards. The four Grands Crus are Bâtard-Montrachet (6 ha), Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet (3.6 ha), Chevalier-Montrachet (7.25 ha) and Montrachet (4 ha).

Puligny-Montrachet - Lagenkarte und Weingärten

The Premier Cru sites cover around 100 hectares of vineyards. These are Champ Gain, Champs Canet, Clos de la Garenne, Clos de la Mouchere, Hameau de Plagny, La Garenne, Le Cailleret, Les Chalumaux, Les Clavoillons, Les Combettes, Les Demoiselles, Les Folatières, Les Perrières, Les Pucelles, Les Referts Sous le Puits and La Truffière.

The Village appellation of Puligny-Montrachet covers around 115 hectares of vines. An alternative appellation exclusively for red wines is Puligny-Montrachet-Côte de Beaune. See also under Burgundy classification.

Images: © 2018 Collection Pierre Poupon. All rights of reproduction, translation and adaptation reserved for all countries

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