Domaine Changarnier, Monthélie `Pierrefitte`
Vintage: 2021
| Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | DC502B21 | 6 x 75 | Natural Cork | Available |
Producer
Domaine Changarnier is located in the heart of Monthélie, a village sandwiched between Volnay and Meursault. Brothers Claude and Antoine Changarnier, whose family have owned the domaine since 1720, have been integral to establishing the domaine’s modern reputation since taking over in 2004.
Domaine Changarnier’s five-hectares of vines have been certified organic since 2019 with all vineyard operations carried out manually and horses used to plough the vineyards and prevent soil compaction. According to Claude, this sustainable approach is key to preserving the signature freshness of the domaine’s wines. The whites are mineral and elegant, made with just 10 - 20% new oak and larger foudres to ensure a lovely texture that emphasises the site rather than the barrel maker. Their red wines are equally refined, with grainy tannins and a lovely balance.
Domaine Changarnier’s Monthélie Villages Blanc is sourced from their two parcels of 25-year-old vines planted on white clay soils. It is partially fermented in sandstone amphorae (20%) before ageing in a combination of these, 500-litre barrels and Stockinger foudres. The resulting wine displays vibrant citrus fruit and fresh acidity, making it both immediately accessible and suitable for ageing. The Monthélie ‘Le Clos’ hails from a walled plot which used to be the domaine’s garden. Fermented and aged in used oak and sandstone amphorae, this wine balances lemony acidity with a generous richness and could easily be mistaken for a Meursault.
The Monthélie ‘Pierrefitte’ hails from a steep lieu-dit just across the border from Volnay 1er Cru ‘Clos des Chênes’ at 325 metres elevation on white clay soils. 30% whole bunch and very gentle extraction during the ferment allow the sense of place of this remarkable site to shine through and produces a wine defined by lovely freshness, crunchy red fruit character and velvety tannins. The Monthélie 1er Cru ‘Meix Bataille’ comes from 45-year-old vines planted on deeper limestone clay soils, resulting in a wine with greater richness and power, more akin to a Pommard.
Vineyards
The 'Pierrefitte' lieu-dit is located to the east of the village of Monthélie, close to the border with Volnay. Domaine Changarnier own a 0.46-hectare plot of 72-year-old Pinot Noir vines here, planted on chalky marl soils which give the wines a marked mineral character. The vineyard sits at 325 metres above sea level and the vines have a south, south-west exposure. The vineyard is farmed sustainably and the wine is certified organic.
Vintage
The 2021 vintage was a difficult year in Burgundy. After a mild winter and a cold spell in spring, temperatures rose significantly to summer levels during late March-early April. This caused the vines to bud earlier than usual, which left fragile buds vulnerable. During early April, there was a sudden drop in temperature, with extremes of -8ºC. Temperatures were milder than usual during the summer, and flowering took place in July. Substantial soil water reserves allowed the grapes to ripen slowly at their own pace and recover from earlier vine stress due to the harsh conditions. Despite being one of the smallest vintages ever in Burgundy, it offers a very nice and subtle representation of each site and the wines are characterised by freshness and great finesse.
Vinification
All of the fruit was harvested by hand into small, 11kg crates. Upon arrival at the winery 65% of the grapes were destemmed and underwent a cool pre-fermentation maceration for five days. Fermentation took place in concrete vats with 35% whole bunch and was soft and slow, lasting 20 days, with only a few very gentle punch downs during the ferment so as not to over extract. Following fermentation, only a very small portion of SO2 was added, before the wine was racked to used French oak barrels, where it was aged for one year. It spent three months in tank before it was lightly filtered and bottled.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
Deep ruby red in colour, the nose displays intense aromas of black cherry and blackberry with hints of toast, vanilla and black pepper. Elegant and fresh on the palate, with a core of black fruit and round, silky tannins. The chalky minerality leads to a bright, lifted finished.
Alcohol (ABV)
13%
Acidity
3.36 g/l
Residual Sugar
0.3 g/l
pH
3.52
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domaine Changarnier | Monthélie 1er Cru `Meix Bataille` | DC501 | R | ||
| Monthélie Blanc | DC503 | W | |||
| Monthélie Blanc `Le Clos` | DC504 | W | Factsheet |