2000 Michel Coutoux Montrachet

Michel Coutoux is the son-in-law of Michel Niellon, long-time proprietor of Domaine Michel Niellon in Chassagne-Montrachet. Coutoux has made Niellon’s wines for some time, but Coutoux has also opened a negociant business under his own name. Coutoux uses purchased fruit for his negociant wines and makes only white wines. Clive Coates has written that Maison Michel Coutoux’s wines “are generally very good.”

Le Montrachet is renowned as one of the world’s truly extraordinary Chardonnay vineyards. Along with its three neighboring vineyards, Chevalier-Montrachet, Batard-Montrachet and Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet, Le Montrachet is a highly prestigious Grand Cru. Though Le Montrachet is usually associated with the Puligny-Montrachet appellation, almost half the famous vineyard lies in the Chassagne-Montrachet appellation just to the south. Le Montrachet is a 20-acre vineyard located on a steep, southern and southeastern slope at 260 meters above sea level. The soil is limestone and clay mixed with pebbles. The drainage is excellent and it is considered an ideal vineyard site. Until the French Revolution the vineyard was owned by a single family. Today the largest landholders are Marquis de Laguiche (whose wines are vinifed and marketed by Joseph Drouhin) with 5 acres; Baron Thenard (wines sold by Roland Remoissenet et Fils) 4.5 acres; and Bouchard Pere et Fils, 2.2 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.