Wine Advisor
Fontaine Gagnard, Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets 2016
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2016 Chassagne Montrachet 1Er Cru les Caillerets had the highest natural alcohol level of the Chassagnes. There is fine mineralité on the nose, quite tensile with a subtle marine influence coming through with time. The palate is well balanced with a viscous opening, good energy here and the mineralité flourishing and lending tension all the way through to the finish, ginger on the aftertaste. This is the best premier cru from the domaine apart from their La Boudriotte.
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
