CHAMBOLLE MUSIGNY

Localization : Côte de Nuits
Total vineyard area : 155 ha. of which 61 ha. Premier Cru and 24.2 ha. are Grand Cru
Area in production : 176,4 ha
Variety and types of wine : almost exclusively Pinot producing red wines (only 0.60 ha. are planted with Chardonnay for the production of Musigny)
Classification : Villages, Premier Cru and Grand Cru

Premier Cru territories :

Grand Cru territories :

Bonnes Mares : 90% of this Grand Cru is produced in the Village of Chambolle Musigny, and the rest in Morey Saint Denis. Owner of 0.24 ha. in Chambolle Musigny, Bouchard Père et Fils produces a little over one thousand bottles per year of this nectar, with exceptional density and body. The origin of the name has sometimes been debated : some think it comes from the verb "Marer" which used to mean "cultivate", others maintain that the appellation is named after the bas reliefs in the Village which represent "Déesses Mères" (mother gods) or "Bonnes Mères" (good mothers) who protected the crop. The vines are planted on chalky soil thinned out by a lot of pebbles and stones. The Bouchard Père & Fils estate Bonnes Mares reveals intense aromas of blackberries and a pleasant hint of oak. Dense on the palate, its structure is superbly fleshy and it offers unique potential for laying down.

Musigny : The very image of suppleness, corpulence and distinction. The vines are planted on quite a steep slope with sub-soil of rock and chalky, clay, rocky soil. The name could come from the Gallo-roman. "Musinus" who owned a dwelling there at the time.

The Village of Chambolle, to which the territory of Musigny was added in 1882, was probably a community before the 12th century going by the remains which have been found there. Belonging to the Cistercian abbey at Gilly until 1500, Chambolle gradually gained its independence.

A neighbour of Morey Saint Denis, the soil of Chambolle Musigny does not necessarily have the same characteristics.

Soil and sub-soil are of ideal composition for the production of remarkably fine wines. The soil is generally shallow sometime just covering the rock. The vine reaches far down (up to 10 metres) for its nourishment thanks to faults in the rock, in particular on the territory of Musigny. Half way up the slope, the Premiers Crus are produced on ground with varied structure : brown chalk, white chalk and pebbles. Often considered to be akin to Volnay on the Côte de Nuits, the wines of Chambolle Musigny are a typical example of finesse and elegance. They usually develop aromas of raspberry, violet, strawberry evolving towards more woody notes. Concentrated and mellow, they have remarkable structure with exceptionally fine tannins.

The Bouchard Père & Fils estate Chambolle Musigny covers 0.71 ha. on chalky clay soil. The wines produced there are very expressive, reminiscent of red berries on a light delicate note of oak. Tender and refined, their structure has remarkable finesse without being excessively robust.

Photographic credit : Dominique Pernin