Wine Advisor
Fontaine Gagnard, Criots Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2013
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2013 Criots Bâtard Montrachet Grand Cru has an intense and mineral bouquet that soars – touches of white peach and apricot blossom gently drifting from the glass, flecks of chalk and even white chocolate. The palate is fresh and vibrant, hints of white peach and brioche, oyster shell and citrus peel on the precise understated finish. This will be irresistible.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Pale, bright yellow. Lively aromas of exotic fruits, floral honey and clove. Silky, rich and suave, conveying sexy soil tones to its flavors of lime, menthol and white truffle. This nicely balanced, tactile Criots-Batard comes across as more refined than its 2014 sibling, but that wine was in an awkward stage at the end of May.
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
