Maison Caroline Lestime Chassagne-Montrachet Champ Derrière 2018

Region: Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France

Vintage: 2018

Bottle size: 75cl

Grape: Chardonnay

ABV: 13%

From a small plot at the edge of the village, Caroline has produced an excellent Chassagne cuvée. The nose is dry and serious, with notes of white pepper, pear, white tea and coconut. The mouth is similarly dry, with excellent thickness and a savory, saline finish. It’s a sophisticated cuvée, made by a masterful winemaker.

The huddle of cellars that comprises the winery of Domaine Jean-Noël Gagnard, situated under their old house in the heart of the village, hardly seems big enough for the domaine’s 12.5 hectares of vineyard. But the ever-enterprising Caroline Lestimé also makes her ‘negociant’ wines here. These are negociant wines only in the sense that she doesn’t own the land. She does, however, manage the vineyards and make the wines, giving them the same stamp of individuality and integrity as those of the domaine.