Blain-Gagnard Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet

Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet bottle image

Wine Description

Domaine Blain-Gagnard was formed in 1980 when Jean-Marc Blain married Claudine Gagnard, youngest daughter of Jacques and Marie-Josèphe Gagnard of Domaine Gagnard-Delagrange. The couple runs this venerable domaine with the help of their son Marc-Antonin. They now control 20.5 acres of vines in Chassagne-Montrachet, including holdings in three grands crus: Le Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet, and Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet.

Domaine Blain-Gagnard Flowers
Chassagne-Montrachet
Criots-Batard-Montrachet
Family Tree
Domaine Blain-Gagnard & Fossils
Domaine Blain-Gagnard Gate
Jean-Marc Blain
Jean-Marc Blain
Cellar Tools
accordion plus icons
Acclaim
“A ripe, fresh and overtly exotic nose is composed of dried yellow orchard fruit, floral and once again, plenty of petrol character. There is good volume to the succulent and powerful medium-bodied plus flavors that possess a highly seductive texture before concluding in a lingering and compact finish where the wood treatment resurfaces. This is a deceptive wine as the mouth feel is almost oily yet the power and firm acidity make it clear that this is not only built-to-age but a wine that is going to need at least 5 or so first.”
— Burghound, Jun 2018
View more acclaim Arrow Right
accordion plus icons
Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet
Vineyard size
< 1 acres
Soil composition
limestone and clay with lots of small pebbles
Exposure:
Southern
Average Vine Age:
a mix of 30, 40 and 60-year-old vines
accordion plus icons
Winemaking & Aging
Varietal composition:
100% Chardonnay
Fermentation container:
Barrels
Fining agent:
Vegan
Type of oak:
French
Length of aging before bottling:
11 months
accordion plus icons
Analytical Data
No relevant data were found.
accordion plus icons
Wine Production

Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet comprises the two villages which are the smallest of the Grand Crus in Chassagne and Puligny-Montrachet with just 3.9 acres. The vineyard is located entirely within the commune of Chassagne-Montrachet and sits directly south of Bâtard-Montrachet.  Criots is one of the smallest appellations in France and there are only a handful of producers who bottle it.

accordion plus icons
About the Vineyard

Chassagne-Montrachet lies towards the southern end of the Côte de Beaune and is famous for its white wines, although half of its total plantings are in red. In addition to the Grand Crus, Blain-Gagnard’s holdings in Chassagne-Montrachet include two red premier crus and four white premier crus along with small holdings in Volnay and Pommard. The vineyards are farmed by lutte raisonée (“reasoned struggle”).