Terroir of Chambolle-Musigny appellation
This village is a former annex of the Abbey of Cîteaux situated on the upper slope of the Côte d'Or at an altitude of 300 m. The best vineyards of
Chambolle Musigny are found on the mid-slope. The AOC produces two superb Grands Crus: Bonnes-Mares and Musigny, and a prestigious Premier Cru: Les Amoureuses. Pinot Noir is almost the only grape variety grown in this wine-growing region. The climate is continental. The harsh winters and hot summers help to balance the sugars and acidity in the wines. In total, the
Chambolle Musigny appellation covers 176 hectares of vineyards, including 56 Premiers Crus and 24 Grands Crus.
The vines grow on limestone and clay-limestone soils. Their easterly exposure at an altitude of between 250 and 300 metres and the gravel in the valley ensure good drainage. What's more, the vine roots can nourish themselves deep down thanks to the cracks in the limestone dating from the Middle Jurassic period. The
Chambolle-Musigny produced is a wine with a brilliant ruby hue. It is remarkable for its delicately perfumed bouquet of violets and red berries. It develops more complex aromas of spicy ripe fruit, prunes, truffles and earthy or animal notes after a few years in bottle. These wines are both delicate and fleshy in texture, with a character that combines vigour and femininity.
Our selection of the best Chambolle-Musigny producers:
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Georges Roumier: this 13 hectare wine estate was created in 1924. It was quite small at the time. The estate has made a name for itself with its Bonnes Mares and Musigny wines, which are in great demand on the market. It produces velvety, silky wines with delicious, complex earthy and fruity aromas. On the palate, they taste of sweet red fruit or black fruit with strong acidity, making them a real treat for wine lovers.
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Jacques Fréderique Mugnier: the history of this 14-hectare estate in the village of
Chambolles-Musigny began in the 1880s. Today Fréderique Mugnier, the fifth generation of the family, manages the estate. It produces two Bourgognes Grands Crus: Bonnes Mares and Musigny. These are full-bodied wines of great aromatic class, with perfectly balanced tannins. Its Premiers Crus are elegant, pure wines with an intense, complex nose and a silky, velvety mouthfeel.
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Faiveley: this 115 hectare estate in the heart of the Côte des Nuits is one of the largest in Burgundy. Its vineyards include some of the best parcels of Premiers Crus and Grands Crus. Its wines are magnificently aromatic, concentrated and deep, with mineral and spicy raspberry flavours.
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Comte de Vogue : this 12-hectare estate, founded in 1450, is one of Burgundy's finest wine producers. 80% of its vineyards are planted with Musigny. It also has parcels of Bonnes Mares and Premier Cru
Chambolle-Musigny. The estate produces sublime Burgundy wines: fragrant, rich, balanced, elegant yet full of flavour, or muscular wines that mellow wonderfully with age. Some of its older vintages are snapped up by investors.
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Drouhin: This vast 73 hectare estate is currently run by the fourth generation of the Drouhin family. It was founded in the late 1800s by Joseph Drouhin. The company also operates other equally extensive vineyards in Chablis, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune and Côte Chalonnaise. The wines of this producer can reveal earthy, fruity notes and a subtle minerality, depending on the vintage. They are sweet wines, with supple tannins and excellent length on the palate. They can have good acidity.
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Domaine d'Auvenay: this small 4 hectare vineyard run by Lalou Bize-Leroy has 5 Grands Crus in its portfolio, as well as Premiers Crus and a Bourgogne Aligoté. Each wine produced by this estate expresses the terroir and identity of its character. They are fine, polished wines with deep flavours and astonishing ageing potential.
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Jacky Truchot : this 15-acre estate was founded in 1978. It has three Burgundy appellations:
Gevrey-Chambertin,
Morey St. Denis and
Chambolle-Musigny, Premiers Crus and Grands Crus. These are elegant wines full of aromas and flavours of red fruit, truffle and game.
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Robert Groffier: this family is one of the finest winemakers on the Côte des Nuits. The estate, founded in the early 19th century, comprises 8 hectares of vineyards divided into parcels of Bonne Mares, Chambertin Clos de Beze and Chambolles-Musigny Les Amoureuses. These are light, intense, complex wines with magnificent fruit and notes of raspberries, strawberries and lively acidity on the palate.
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Domaine de la Vougeraie: this 40-hectare estate in Premeaux was created in 1999. It has over 30 different appellations, including six Grands Crus Musigny, Bonnes Mares,
Clos Vougeot, Charmes Chambertin, Corton Clos de Roi and Corton Charlemagne. The red wines from this estate give off aromas of raspberries and forest floor. On the palate, they have velvety textures thanks to their tannins and excellent acidity. They convey a sensation of delicacy and finesse.
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Denis Mortet: this 14-hectare estate was founded by Denis Mortet in the early 1990s. It encompasses 14 different appellations, including two Grands Crus,
Clos de Vougeot and Chambertin. The red Grand Crus from this estate have a beautiful, more or less deep colour, with an airy, fairly rich nose of spices, notes of red fruit and mousse. They are unctuous, layered and fleshy on the palate, with good length.
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Cécile Tremblay: this estate, based in
Morey-Saint-Denis, farms over 10 hectares in 11 different appellations. This relatively new producer produces pinot noir-based Premiers Crus, including wines from
Chambolle-Musigny,
Vosnée-Romanée and
Nuits-Saint-Georges. Two Grands Crus and a selection of village wines. Its wines stand out for their dense, pure, lively character, with a tendency towards black fruit rather than red fruit.