Domaine Blain-Gagnard - Chassagne Montrachet

Domaine Blain-Gagnard is a small, quality producer based in Chassagne, run by Claudine Blain and her husband Jean-Marc. Claudine is the grand-daughter of Edmond Delagrange, whose Delagrange-Bachelet domaine at Meursault was very highly regarded in its time. Claudine and Jean-Marc have clearly inherited elements of his refined style.

Blain Gagnard is predominently a white wine estate although some very fine Volnay is also made here and a small parcel of Pinot in Chassagne is also vinified. But Chardonnay is the mainstay and Jean-Marc Blain's style is one of great finess and elegance rather than sheer power that other estates strive for. They are always welcome on our table and when aged well, the complexity is amazing.

Perhaps the top white of the Blain Gagnard Domaine would be the Criots Batard Montrachet, again not the most powerful but yet certainly the most mineral. This is a wine that shows through well in youth and is alwyas the first of the Grand Cru's here to be drinking. But it's the minerality that makes it so incredible, especially when partnered with great food.