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White dry
Delicate pneumatic pressing, indigenous yeast and malolactic fermentation in barrel. Aged for 18 months on fine lees in 228L oak barrels. Bâtard-Montrachet is the third most famous Grand Cru to bear the name Montrachet and is a major actor in the propagation of Chardonnay around the world. Over time, this once uncultivated hill has become a mythical place for lovers of great white wines. Only 200 cases are made each year.
Serve at 12-14 °C with fresh salmon seasoned with dill, crayfish in cream sauce, scallops, intense cheeses, white meat dishes such as veal.
This was the last wine I tasted on my three-week Burgundy tour and it was a great way to finish. Sourced from a 0.33ha block of 60-year-old vines on the Chassagne side of the Grand Cru, it's consistently the most patrician wine in Caroline Lestimé's range. Spicy, structured and stylishy oaked in 60% new barrels, it's powerful yet fresh with wonderful energy. Drinking Window 2023 - 2035
The 2017 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is very promising, offering up a lovely but youthfully reserved bouquet of crisp orchard fruit, vine blossom, honeysuckle, mandarin and pastry cream. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, broad and ample, with a glossy, textural attack, good depth at the core, chewy extract and a gently oak-inflected finish. This is a very good Bâtard that exemplifies the house style.
Domaine Jean-Noël Gagnard is located in the village of Chassagne-Montrachet and is renowned for its exceptional white wines made from ‘Chardonnay’. In 1989, Caroline L’Estimé took over the domaine from her father, Jean-Noël Gagnard, after completing her studies at a Paris business school. Her goal is to preserve the delicate character of ‘Chardonnay’, allowing the terroir to speak for itself.
The vineyards under Caroline’s care are farmed organically and according to biodynamic principles, while in the cellar she applies minimal-intervention methods. She avoids excessive use of new oak, does not employ reductive techniques, and rarely filters her wines. Remaining true to Chassagne traditions, the white wines are matured in neutral oak barrels for 18–20 months to preserve their natural aroma and structure. Since 2014, all 12.5 hectares of the family’s vineyards have been certified organic and are managed biodynamically.
Jean-Noël Gagnard wines stand out for their delicate aromas, refined structure, and pure ‘Chardonnay’ expression. They are an authentic reflection of Chassagne-Montrachet terroir and are suited for both early enjoyment and extended cellaring.
White wine – mineral and elegant, with notes of wild mushrooms, melted butter, dried herbs, and citrus fruits. The texture is rich yet balanced with freshness and harmony.
Red wine – although the domaine primarily focuses on whites, it also produces ‘Pinot Noir’, notable for its subtle red berry character, silky texture, and gentle tannins.
Domaine Jean-Noël Gagnard owns numerous prestigious parcels in Chassagne-Montrachet, including:
Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets – elegant, mineral, and long-lived ‘Chardonnay’.
Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jean – rich and complex, with delicate floral and honeyed aromas.
Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Boudrières – known for its full body and long, lingering finish.
The domaine also produces village-level wines that often surpass Premier Cru quality.
White wines are matured in neutral oak barrels for 18–20 months to retain as much natural aroma and structure as possible. Filtration is applied very sparingly. This approach ensures the wines are open and harmonious when young, yet they also possess excellent aging potential – the finest examples, particularly from Premier Cru sites, evolve beautifully over 10–15 years.
