CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHET 1ER CRU LES CHAMPGAINS

Domaine Fernand et Laurent Pillot

APPELLATION

Chassagne Montrachet - Burgundy

GRAPE VARIETIES

100% Chardonnay

WINEMAKERS

Laurent Pillot

TECHNICAL DATA

Alcohol
13.55%

2015

91POINTS

Burghound

JUNE 2017

2020

91POINTS

Wine Advocate

JANUARY 2022

Where To Buy VIEW BRAND PORTFOLIO

BACKGROUND

Since the 19th Century, generations of the Pillot family have cultivated the hills of Chassagne-Montrachet on over 35 acres of land spread across 22 different appellations. The vineyards are mainly concentrated on Chassagne-Montrachet and Pommard terroirs, but also on the soils of Santeany, Saint-Aubin, Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault, Volnay, and Beaune. The father-and-son team of Fernand and Laurent focuses tirelessly on maintaining quality with their practices: low yields, minimal use of fertilizer and strict hygiene. All of their wines are vinified and matured in a modern winery but Laurent pays special attention to keep with traditional Burgundy practices: barrel fermentation for the whites, minimal stirring of the lees, and ageing the wines in French oak barrels from a variety of forests and coopers. The vineyards are worked “agrobiologie” with care taken to see that soils are cultivated without the use of chemical weed-killers. The family is also a member of the research group DEPHY-EcoPhyto since 2012, which aims to decrease the amount of pesticides used and to better agricultural techniques for an environmentally sound ecosystem.

WINEMAKING & VINTAGE NOTES

The vines grow on 0.85 acres of stony, clay-limestone soils which are located at 787 feet above sea level. Les Champgains sits mid-slope and mid-village in Chassagne, producing wines of elegance and depth. Grapes are hand-harvested and carried to the winery where they undergo alcoholic fermentation in oak barrels for a period of two months. The wine is aged in French oak barrels for 11–12 months.

TASTING NOTES

Persistent scents of lemon and grapefruit lead the way to a warm, round and rich mouthfeel with flavors of white flowers and citrus fruits. This wine has a long finish and a delicate acidity. Can age for three to ten years. A great aperitif that also pairs well with grilled fish, shrimp, lobster and white meats in creamy sauces.

AGING

The wine is aged in French oak barrels for 11–12 months.