Chassagne-Montrachet, village in the Côte de Beaune district of Burgundy’s Côte d’Or more famed for its white wines from the Chardonnay grape than for its equally plentiful red wines from Pinot Noir. Until the mid 1980s, the village produced more red wine than white, but the significant premium for white Chassagne led to considerable planting of Chardonnay, even on relatively unsuitable soils.
The better soil for Pinot Noir, limestone marl with a red gravel content, lies mainly on the south side of the village towards Santenay and incorporates most of the village appellation, although La Boudriotte and Morgeot, among the premiers crus, make excellent red wines, as can Clos St-Jean closer to the village. Red Chassagne-Montrachet tends to be somewhat hard and earthy when young, mellowing with age but rarely achieving the delicacy of truly fine red burgundy.
