Characteristics
Location
In the heart of the Côte de Nuits
East, South-East and South exposure
Altitude 250 to 300 meters
Location downstream from the Combe Ambin (Combe de Chambolle-Musigny)
Geology
Jurassic limestone
East, South-East and South exposure
Geological and geographic context of Chambolle-Musigny
During the secondary era (250 to 65 million years), significant marine sedimentary deposits formed in our region.
Concerning the Chambolle-Musigny vineyard, here are the geological stages:
From the end of the secondary era and especially in the tertiary era, significant movements of tectonic plates occur leading to the formation of the Alps, to the uplift of the Burgundy coast (located to the east of the Paris basin) combined with the collapse of the Bressan moat (Saône plain) with many stepped faults.
The relief of La Côte de Nuits, shaped in its landscape by the rock of Comblanchien (compact and hard limestone), presents the regularity of a plateau whose border faces NNE-SSW, a situation favorable to the climatic conditions of the vineyard.
This limestone plateau is notched by “valleys”, dry valleys, which can sometimes after long rains, see intermittent streams reappear. It is this phenomenon of the resurgence of Grosne in Chambolle-Musigny that explains the etymology of the name of Chambolle: “boiling field” or in Latin “Campus Ebulliens”.
During the cold periods of the Quaternary, the alternations of freeze-thaw amplified the digging of the Chambolle-Musigny valley, producing a great deal of debris which settled downstream in the form of an alluvial cone.
These screes have a beneficial role in the drainage quality of the wine-growing soils located in the axis of this valley.
More generally, along the coast, the quality of drainage is an important parameter for the quality of the soil: the clay-limestone balance of the soil in the middle of the slope promotes quality drainage.
Each vineyard is the result of many natural parameters: subsoil depending on the geological level, scree, soil, slope, exposure, drainage, water retention, high, low or intermediate position in the hillside, relative situation at the axis of the valley …
Therefore, each place on the hillside (climat) produces a unique wine with an oenological personality that reflects the natural and anthropogenic characteristics of the terroir.
Soils –Terroirs
Grape variety: Pinot Noir in red and Chardonnay and Aligoté in white.
Personality of the Terroirs
The wines of Chambolle-Musigny combine delicacy, elegance, finesse, but also mineral energy and depth.
GRANDS CRUS
Grands Crus Musigny (Red and White) in total 10.70ha (including 0.65ha of White Musigny) Bonnes-Mares 13.54 (and 1.51ha in the town of Morey-St-Denis)
Location:
The Grands Crus and the Premiers Crus (overall in Côte de Nuits) have a position in the middle of the slope on the hillside; there is a clay-limestone balance in the soil composition there.
These wines can combine finesse and elegance on the one hand, depth and consistency on the other.
The Musigny Grand Cru geographically located upstream of the “Amoureuses” in the hillside, and next to the latter in the northern part.
This terroir combines finesse, power, minerality with an added dimension, a finely spicy consistency, and an aromatic spectrum of great richness. Pomegranate, raspberry, blackberry, blackcurrant, and redcurrant are scented with rose and violet. The spices of fine pepper and cinnamon give an exotic touch as well as liquorice and aniseed mint.
The “Musigny” is the Patriarch of our village.
The Musigny Grand Cru blanc (White) is planted in Chardonnay at the top of the Musigny hillside; this wine has a lot of personality and character; it presents a balance between the finesse of the Pear Williams, acacia flowers, and the freshness of the citrus, with a beautiful and deep minerality.
The Bonnes-Mares located further north in the town, heading towards Morey-St-Denis: they are wilder, direct, and demonstrative with aromas of black fruits (blueberry, cherry) and scents of peony and violet.
The Bonnes-Mares have a whole, unique, and independent personality.
They are clearly different from the classic wines of Chambolle-Musigny and maintain between them “a family (parental) relationship by alliance”.
PREMIER CRU
Les Amoureuses:
Their elegance, and their sensuality associated with mineral purity and clarity give them the status of “First Lady” (Premiere Dame) of the village (Le Musigny and les Amoureuses make a very nice couple). Their scent of red fruits (pomegranate, raspberry, blackberry) and rose is very subtle.
The other Premier Crus (Les Charmes, Les Hauts Doix, Les Chabiots, Les Plantes, Les Feusselottes, Aux Beaux Bruns, The Currants, without mentioning them all…) also combine finesse and minerality, each one with its own personality.
The Premiers Crus, which are similar approaching the Bonnes-Mares: have a slightly “wilder” character while remaining elegant (Fuées, Cras, Baudes, Derrière la Grange… for example).
Premiers Crus in total 24: approximately 61ha
List in alphabetical order of the first vintages Premiers Crus (climates with an asterisk also have part in the village appellation)
- Les Amoureuses
- Les Baudes
- Aux Beaux Bruns *
- Les Borniques
- Les Carrières
- Les Chabiots
- Les Charmes
- Les Chatelots
- La Combe d ‘ Orveau *
- Aux Combottes *
- Les Combottes *
- Les Cras *
- Derriere la Grange
- Aux Echanges *
- Les Feusselottes (Les Grands Murs being declared as Feusselottes)
- Les Fuées
- Les Groseilles
- Les Gruenchers
- Les Hauts Doix
- Les Lavrottes
- Les Noirots
- Les Plantes
- Les Sentiers
- Les Véroilles
VILLAGES AND BURGUNDY
Villages in total: around 94ha
Regional (Burgundy and BGO) around 42ha
The Village Appellation is located either high or low on the hillside.
In the first case, the light and superficial soil gives fine, airy wines, but with a rather moderate substance.
In the second, on deep, clayey soil and a lower slope, the wines will be less fine and elegant. Finally, the two extreme positions of the slope situation, meet at the same level of appellation.
The Burgundy Appellation is located to the east of the D974 road, but it benefits by its position in the axis of the Combe Ambin, from the limestone debris formed during the Ice Age which descended to form an alluvial cone, and which contributes to the good soil drainage.
SOMMAIRE
