2004 Domaine Michel Niellon Bâtard-Montrachet

Michel Niellon is a 15-acre domain in Chassagne-Montrachet, in Burgundy’s Cote de Beaune. It is owned and operated by Michel Niellon, who keeps two very small cellars, one underneath his house. Wine writers often comment on Niellon’s small, cramped cellars and limited vineyard acreage, but, in the words of Clive Coates “small is beautiful in this case.” Niellon makes Grand Cru Chevalier-Montrachet and Batard Montrachet, and several Premier Cru Chassange-Montrachets.

Batard-Montrachet is one of the four great Grand Cru Chardonnay vineyards in the appellation of Puligny-Montrachet, in Burgundy. Like its neighbor Le Montrachet, Batard-Montrachet also lies partly in the Chassagne-Montrachet appellation just to the south of Puligny-Montrachet. At 30 acres, Batard-Montrachet is the largest of four Grand Crus and it is divided into nearly 30 individually owned parcels. Located just to the east of Le Montrachet, the soil of Batard-Montrachet is deeper and less thin. The largest landholders are Leflaive, with 4.5 acres; Ramonet, 1.2 acres; Bachelet-Ramonet, 1.4 acres; and Paul Pernot, 1.5 acres.

This white variety originated in Burgundy, but is now grown around the world. Its flexibility to thrive in many regions translates to wide flavor profile in the market. Chardonnay is commonly used in making Champagne and sparkling wines.