2022 Jean Marc Pillot Chassagne Montrachet Rouge
“I am convinced that 2022 is a genuinely great vintage in red”
When you hear the words Chassagne Montrachet you might immediately think white wine. Rightfully so, as the majority of wine coming from Chassagne these days is Chardonnay.
This wasn’t always the case. Forty years ago, pinot noir dominated the landscape but chardonnay slowly began to command higher prices and became easier to sell. As a result, many growers decided to pull out their pinot noir vines and replace them with chardonnay.
In the early 2000’s, I remember buying parcels of Ramonet and being forced to take a couple of cases of the rouge. It was the only way the supplier was going to be able to sell the wine. It’s funny to think, nobody wanted Chassagne Rouge! For the most part, the wines were thin, green, tannic and under ripe. They were almost undrinkable; I know…I found myself drinking (trying) a number of these when they wouldn’t sell.
How things have changed!! In the last 20 years, Chassagne Montrachet Rouge is turning into a total winner thanks to global warming. Warmer temperatures are allowing the pinot noir growing in Chassagne to achieve greater maturity on a much more consistent basis, and it’s changing everyone's perception about the wines.
Turns out, now I am ASKING for the Chassagne Rouge. Not only are they great wines they offer tremendous value!
I can’t say enough good things about Jean Marc Pillot’s 2022’s - as good as the whites are, the red wines in this vintage are the star. His son Antonin is taking on more of the day to day operations and he is the person I tasted with on my most recent vintage. I know the Domaine is most recognized for its white wines but those of you looking for
