2020 Domaine Bader-Mimeur Chassagne-Montrachet Chateau de Chassagne Montrachet Blanc

2020 Domaine Bader-Mimeur Chassagne-Montrachet Chateau de Chassagne Montrachet Blanc

2020 Domaine Bader-Mimeur Chassagne-Montrachet Chateau de Chassagne Montrachet Blanc The nose is fresh and racy, revealing a nice, racy, precise grain and some linearity. There are notes of crisp yellow apple, kumquat and, more slightly, physalis, combined with hints of green apple skin, racy minerality and a subtle hint of fresh sap and lemon verbena. The palate is fruity and offers a nice juiciness, roundness, volume, pulpiness, energy, a nice acidic backbone and a nice ripe/sour/flavored fruit. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of bright kumquat, quince and, more slightly, vine peach, combined with touches of crushed nectarine, subtle hints of physalis and a subtle hint of roasted pineapple, toasted almond, vanilla and a subtle hint of brioche (in the background). A beautiful, gourmande persistence and a subtle chewiness. Good length.

A Côte de Beaune village of Burgundy most famous for its beautifully textured and powerful whites, Chassagne-Montrachet reaches farthest south in the Côte d’Or, save for the village of Santenay. It has three Grands Crus vineyards: Le Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet and Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet. Le Montrachet and Bâtard-Montrachet overlap with and are (confusingly) shared with the village of Puligny-Montrachet. But Chassagne-Montrachet bears sole ownership of the Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru.

The beauty doesn’t stop there as the village has a great many outstanding Premiers Crus wines and village level wines. Most famous Premiers Crus vineyards include Les Chenevottes, Clos de la Maltroie, En Cailleret and Les Ruchottes. Also, village level wines offer many lovely examples of what Chassagne-Montrachet has to offer, but at more approachable price points and perhaps less demand of waiting.

The best sites in Chassagne-Montrachet have complex soils of sedimentary rock and limestone (with less marl). Whites, which are by law composed of 100% Chardonnay (as in all classified white Burgundy from Côte d’Or), have steely power, bright and concentrated citrus, stone or tropical fruit characteristics and attractive textures ranging from plush to tactile, grippy and mineral-driven.

There is some fine Pinot Noir produced from the village. These wines tend to be high-toned and earthy, with wild herb aromas and suave tannins.