2004 Blain-Gagnard Bâtard-Montrachet

Blain-Gagnard is a 20-acre estate in Chassange. It is owned and operated by Jean-Marc Blain and his wife Claudine Blain Gagnard, whose late father was the much admired vigneron Jacques Gagnard. The domain has Grand Cru parcels in Le Montrachet, Batard-Montrachet and Criots-Batard-Montrachet, and white and red Premier Crus in Chassange-Montrachet. Clive Coates has called the domain “a fine source…Blain’s white wines, like those of the rest of the family, concentrate on the finesse and the fruit are delicate for Chassagnes.”

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.