Chassagne Montrachet Rouge, Les Plantes Momieres, Vieilles Vignes, Domaine Bachey-Legros, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France, 2022   

Grape: 100% Pinot Noir, 0.5ha of old vines planted 1946, aged in oak for 15 months (25% new) 

Producer Tasting Note:

The nose reveals initial Morello cherry and black fruits, unfolding into wild strawberry accented by subtle animal/spicy notes. On the palate, the wine is dry and full-bodied, with firm yet refined tannins, an expression of the naturally low yielding old vines lending depth and character.

Winemaker Notes:

"A wine suitable for keeping. It is less and less usual to find very old Pinot Noir vines in Chassagne-Montrachet. So we have always wanted to keep this plot just as it was planted in 1946 by Joseph Bachey, grandfather of Christiane.  It has a very lovely situation, just below the “Abbaye de Morgeot” Premier Cru, on soils that are relatively calcareous. The exposure is favourable to early ripening.  The old vines reflect perfectly the natural qualities of the terroir: the roots plunge deep into the limestone and the vines have a low yield, small berries with a thick skin, rich in tannins, and a good proportion of mixed-size millérandé grapes. This is a noble raw material. It is totally de-stemmed before a gentle and delicate vinification, which is necessary to conserve all of its elegance.  The time in vat is limited to 17 days, almost without human intervention. All of this contributes to a wine with tannins which are both naturally powerful and silky. It will keep its deep colour and its aromas of black fruits for a long time.  Age enhances it."

The Estate: 19 hectares of prime vineyards, which have expanded with each subsequent generation, are planted on the best sites in Santenay, Chassagne-Montrachet, and Les Maranges, where the finest qualities of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are expressed. This is particularly true of those vines planted between 1935 and 1955, which have been lovingly tended, decade after decade. Established in the 19th century, the current (6th) generation of the family to handle the running of the domaine are Samuel and Lénaïc.

Food Match: Great with red meat, roasted meat, all kinds of cheese and chocolate desserts.