Wine Advisor
Fontaine Gagnard, Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets 2020
View analysis
Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2020 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Caillerets 1er Cru has wonderful terroir expression on the nose, very nicely balanced, touches of lemon verbena, white peach and a light walnut aroma. The palate is very taut and linear, a fine spine of acidity with impressive salinity, especially on the finish. Great length and poise, this may warrant a higher score in the future.
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
