Wine Advisor
Jean Noel Gagnard, Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2015
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2015 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru has a crisp and well-defined bouquet with hints of granite and wet pavement coming through with time. There is something almost haughty about the aromatics, as if looking down upon its Chassagne-Montrachet stablemates and given its precision, it has a right to do so. The palate is well balanced with crisp acidity, lively and fresh citrus fruit, precise and with fine mineralité towards the saline finish. Excellent.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
The 2015 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru has a slightly smudged bouquet that may have just a little botrytis. It seems to deteriorate in the glass and becomes too muscat-like for my preference. The palate is well balanced with a fine line of acidity and quite taut and linear, with a touch of spice toward the finish. However, the oak just dries out the finish a little. This performed better in barrel but hopefully it will improve in bottle. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting.
About the Producer
Caroline Lestimé took over from her father, Jean-Noël, in 1989, though Domaine Jean-Noël Gagnard still retains his name. The estate’s modern reputation has very much been built by Caroline, who has made it her responsibility to develop the many expressions of Chassagne Montrachet terroirs across her range. There are 12 different Premiers Crus to choose from; some now carry their own identity, having previously been offered under the larger Morgeot appellation. She has bought more land in Chassagne when available and affordable, and there’s a very well-situated white wine vineyard in the Hautes-Côtes, sold under the L’Estimée brand. Some very attractive reds from Chassagne round off the range. The vineyards are all organic, now certified; Caroline plans to put that status on her labels from the 2019 vintage. In the winery A little perspective is always an asset with Caroline’s wines: it’s not her style to manipulate or force, and any perception of dumbness is always mitigated once in bottle. Caroline is always very attuned to her wines’ progress during élevage.
