Montrachet Grand Cru AOP
In Burgundy, the hierarchy of wines places at the top the Grands Crus, prestigious wines produced in the vineyards of the Côte de Nuits, Chablis and the Côte de Beaune. Five of them are grouped together in the southern part of the Côte de Beaune, between Meursault and Santenay. Together, they form the Montrachet family, 5 AOCs that are among the finest white wines in the world. Majestic, splendid, prestigious: there is no shortage of adjectives to describe these exceptional white wines, the jewels in the crown of the Burgundy wines.
General presentation of the Montrachet appellation
The area of the AOC Montrachet spreads over two neighbouring communes, Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet. Its nearly 8 hectares of vines are surrounded by 4 other AOCs classified as Grand Cru:
-Bâtard-montrachet: the vineyard covers about 11 hectares straddling Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet
-Chevalier-montrachet: a Climat of just over 7 hectares in the commune of Puligny-Montrachet alone
-Bienvenues-bâtard-montrachet: approximately 3.5 hectares make up this vineyard of Puligny-Montrachet
-Criots-bâtard-montrachet: a small parcel of 1.5 ha in the commune of Chassagne-Montrachet alone
It is a bald mountain that gave them their name of "mont-rachet", an arid hill free of vegetation where the chardonnay found its land of choice. All these Grands Crus use exclusively this grape variety, to which they give all their letters of nobility.
Characteristics of Montrachet
Each Climat has its own characteristics; however, there are some common features to all the Grands Crus of the Montrachet family.
Thus, they are distinguished by a golden colour with emerald reflections, limpid and crystalline. With time, it intensifies to a bright golden yellow. Their nose evokes butter, brioche and hot croissant. Spices, fern, dried fruit and honey further enrich this complex and intense aromatic bouquet. Notes of lemongrass, hawthorn, citrus fruits such as orange, and white fruits such as apricot and pear are also common.
All these wines also have that exceptional harmony which gives them a unique and inimitable character. Their power and aromatic persistence are remarkable. Structured, unctuous, firm, deep, a Montrachet Grand Cru is always a splendid and surprising Chardonnay, as rare as it is majestic.
The Montrachet family of wines is also a wine for laying down. They age for at least 10-15 years. The best bottles can be kept for more than 20 years.
How to taste a Montrachet
A Grand Cru such as a Montrachet AOC should be reserved for high-flying gastronomic dishes featuring noble products. This prestigious Chardonnay goes well with caviar, as well as fine shellfish such as lobster and crayfish. It also goes well with other sophisticated dishes, such as poularde de Bresse with morels, carpaccio of scallops, pike quenelles, fillet of pike-perch, monkfish or Arctic char... This white wine from Burgundy classified as a Grand Cru is also a fine companion for a cheese platter: epoisses, camembert, laguiole, chaource...
These white wines should be served at a temperature of between 12 and 14°C.
