Philippe Colin set up his winery in the industrial zone of Chassagne Montrachet where he crafts gorgeous wines from his 11.5 acres of vineyards inherited from both his father’s and his mother’s families. Robert Parker described him as “a man of few words, but that’s fine when your wines have so much to say”. Although not as well known as other Burgundian winemakers, his wines are made with meticulous attention to detail from a selection of exceptional parcels.
Les Chenevottes is set on the edge of Chassagne Montrachet just across the road from the famous Le Montrachet Grand Cru. It’s a flat vineyard planted with 45-80 year old vines on heavy clay soils which retain plenty of water. Like Philippe’s other vineyards, the plot is farmed sustainably with minimal use of chemicals and regular plowing. All of the fruit is harvested by hand with the young wine aged for 12 months in a mixture of standard and larger French oak barrels.
Graceful and complex, this is a fantastic example of Chassagne Montrachet with vibrant notes of white peaches, citrus, and green apples mingling with hints of toast and vanilla spice. On the palate there’s a solid core of orchard fruit, a rich and creamy texture, and a long finish with a bright streak of acidity for balance. A fantastic wine to cellar for a few more years or savour now alongside grilled fish, salmon, roast chicken, or a rich cream-based pasta dish.