Grand Cru site or appellation in the Côte de Beaune area, the southern part of the Côte d'Or area in the French region of Burgundy. It comprises eight hectares of vineyards, almost exactly half of which are shared by the two neighbouring municipalities of Chassagne-Montrachet (here the site is known as "Le Montrachet") and Puligny-Montrachet (here "Montrachet"). The site has been known since the 13th century and was known as Mons Rachicencis, Mont Rachaz, Mont Rachat and from the 15th century as Montrachat. Towards the end of the 19th century, these municipalities added the name of the vineyard to the name of the municipality.
White wines
The lower part of the soil consists of a 50 centimetre thick layer of brown weathered limestone rubble. The site is completely enclosed by a wall (Clos). Only single-varietal white wines from the Chardonnay variety are produced here. They are among the best white wines in France and the world. A Montrachet was one of the favourite wines of the famous writer Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870), who remarked with delight that Montrachet white wines should be enjoyed "kneeling and with bare head".
They are characterised by a honey-like aroma with notes of peach and apricot. The wines from the predominantly south-facing vineyards of Chassagne are described as more powerful and full-bodied, those from Puligny as finer and more elegant. The less important red wines are produced from a single variety of Pinot Noir.
Grands Crus (common area)
In addition to the Montrachet or Le Montrachet Grand Cru site, there are four other Grand Cru sites with the name "Montrachet" in the area of the two communes, which are located around this famous site. These are Bâtard-Montrachet, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet and Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet.
Of the total of five...
