Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chenevottes Domaine 2022

Chanson’s 2 hectare plot is located next door to the famous terroir “Le Montrachet.” The soil most consists of clay and limestone with the famous stone of Chassagne and is clearly mineral. The vineyards have a peculiar aspect; they are made up of small blocks entangled into each other. With its east exposure, on the road to Saint Aubin, this plot benefits from the fresh air which gives the wine very pure and refreshing aromas.
Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Soil: Clay and limestone on the famous stone of Chassagne

The wine is for the most part left alone, as the philosophy is one of “infusion rather than construction.” The wine is vinified 100% whole cluster to extract a deeper color and enhance the structure and aromatic complexity. The major condition is that the grapes must be perfect in terms of ripeness and condition. The reds have a perceptible style as a result: beautiful aromatics with complex spice complementing fruit on the nose and palate. Chanson also strives to maximize the preservation of fresh fruit characteristics, which is why grapes are chilled immediately on arrival in a proprietary tunnel that provides a very quick chill with no oxygen exposure. Then, Champagne-style fractional pressing is practiced to gently extract the purest juice. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrel on the fine lees with no batonnage. Oak is used conservatively, aging for only 11 months in casks.

Jean-Pierre Confuron, Chanson’s winemaker, describes the 2018 vintage as follows: “an extraordinary vintage in every sense. The growing season veered from too wet to too hot and finally too dry, which made deciding when to pick a real challenge. We ultimately decided to begin on the 1st of September with our domaine vineyards. Yields were quite variable though overall quite good and potential alcohols were also varied at between 13 and 14.5%. As we usually do, the vinifications were done using 100% whole clusters for all the wines, save for the Nuits villages because it was hailed on, and thankfully, there were no difficulties with stoppages.”

Overall we can say that the wines produced in 2018 express the richness and pleasantness of the vintage while keeping the elegance and the balance that Domaine Chanson is known for.

Pale gold color. Complex aromas with floral fragrances mixed with a hint of citrus. Taut, voluminous with a sappy texture. Generous finish spicy with a refreshing aftertaste.