Domaine Changarnier

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.