Noel Ramonet Chassagne-Montrachet Blanc 2023

Notes:

Producer: Domaine Noël Ramonet & Fils was established with the 2023 vintage, marking the first commercial release under Noël Ramonet's own label alongside his sons, Michael and Pierre-François Ramonet. After decades of managing vineyards within the family's historic domaine, Noël retained a selection of exceptional Chardonnay parcels to launch this new estate. The domaine encompasses approximately 2.2 hectares, all planted to Chardonnay in Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet, with a philosophy rooted in sustainable viticulture, meticulous handwork, and traditional Burgundian élevage. While this is a new label, the family's winemaking heritage spans nearly a century, dating back to Pierre Ramonet's founding of the original domaine in the late 1920s.
Vineyard: The Chassagne-Montrachet Blanc is produced from estate vineyards within the Village AOC of Chassagne-Montrachet. The parcels are planted on classic limestone, marl, and clay-limestone soils, providing excellent drainage while preserving freshness and mineral tension. The 2023 vintage was one of Burgundy's warmest growing seasons on record, with healthy fruit, generous yields, and harvest beginning in late August under ideal conditions. Careful vineyard management allowed producers to preserve acidity and site expression while achieving excellent physiological ripeness, resulting in wines that combine concentration, freshness, and balance.
Winemaking: Grapes are harvested entirely by hand before being gently whole-cluster pressed. Fermentation is carried out using traditional Burgundian methods in French oak barrels, followed by complete malolactic fermentation and aging on the fine lees. Élevage lasts approximately 12 to 18 months, depending on the vintage and vineyard, with a restrained use of oak that enhances texture and complexity without overshadowing the wine's mineral character. The objective is to produce Chardonnay that faithfully reflects both the vineyard and the vintage through precision, balance, and purity.
Technical Details: Chassagne-Montrachet Village AOC; 2023 vintage; 100% Chardonnay; estate-grown fruit; limestone, marl, and clay-limestone soils; sustainably farmed; hand harvested; whole-cluster pressed; traditional Burgundian vinification; complete malolactic fermentation; aged 12–18 months in French oak barrels; 13.5% ABV; natural cork closure.
Food Pairing: Butter-poached lobster, Dover sole, turbot, roasted monkfish, seared scallops, roast chicken with morel cream sauce, veal medallions, lobster risotto, Comté, Beaufort, and Gruyère. The wine's combination of ripe orchard fruit, vibrant acidity, subtle oak integration, and limestone-driven minerality makes it an excellent companion to shellfish, refined seafood, roasted poultry, and cream-based dishes, while its balance and structure provide excellent aging potential over the coming decade.