Wine Advisor
Fontaine Gagnard, Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru La Romanee 2013
Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2013 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru la Romanée is broody and much more taciturn than the Caillerets, which is typical according to Céline. There are limestone scents here, touches of wet granite. The palate is fresh and crisp on the entry and then it fans out with lightly honeyed citrus fruit. It remains focused, feels long and tender in the mouth, though perhaps the Caillerets just has the edge apropos complexity. Whatever, you still would not kick this out of bed in the morning.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Pale yellow. Cool aromas of lime, vineyard peach and crushed stone, plus a suggestion of mirabelle. A sweet, plush midweight with a lovely sugar/acid balance and good stony energy to its expressive yellow fruit flavors. This tactile, concentrated wine is better balanced today than the 2014 version. Finishes silky and thick, with a note of white truffle.
About the Producer
Laurence Gagnard and Richard Fontaine founded the domaine in 1985 with passion and enthusiasm; their daughter Céline joined the estate in 2007. The family has worked in the vineyards for several centuries, and the domaine carries on this legacy - love of the "terroir" and the search for the best possible quality. Domaine Fontaine-Gagnard works on 22 different appellations, including three Grands Crus: Bâtard-Montrachet, Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet and the crown jewel, Le Montrachet. The estate covers 12 hectares mainly in Chassagne and the winemaking methods are traditional: hand-picking, settling fermentation using natural yeasts, ageing in oak barrels (0 to 30% new oak, depending on the appellation), fining and light filtration. The white wines are bottled after one year of maturation; red wines stay in the barrel for up to 18 months, depending on the vintage. "Fontaine-Gagnard is a Chassagne domaine that has really upped the ante in recent vintages since Celine Fontaine has taken the reins. This was a splendid showing of wines, one of the most comprehensive in Chassagne" Wine Advocate
