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Domaine Fontaine-Gagnard is a wine estate in Chassagne-Montrachet has about 12ha of vineyards spread over 22 different appellations. Largely divided between several Premier crus and Grand Crus in Chassagne-Montrachet. They also own small plots in other areas, including Volnay and Pommard.
The house is descended from the famous Gagnard family and is currently managed by Céline Fontaine and her family. Fontaine-Gagnard is best known for their white wines, which consequently comprise 75% of production. Céline likes to let things happen naturally in the cellar and vineyards, it is what it is and what it is, is good. The wines are elegant and sleek, often with beautiful floral character. The wines offer everything one looks for in Chassagne-Montrachet and more.
Bâtard-Montrachet is a grand cru vineyard that, along with its grand cru neighbors Montrachet and Chevalier-Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet is considered one of the very best terroirs in the world for the Chardonnay grape variety, which makes complex, structured wines with excellent storage potential.
Bâtard-Montrachet(11.97ha) lies on the lowest part of the Montrachet hillside - the land below is only classified for making village wines. Above it is the prestigious Montrachet and above it again Chevalier-Montrachet. Bâtard-Montrachet has a gentle slope and is oriented east, exposing the vines to the morning sun that warms the soils and provides good ripening in the otherwise cool continental climate.
The soil at the bottom of the hill is deeper, gravelly and with a greater proportion of clay than higher up the hill because of this, drainage is not as good. Yet the soil provides contact between roots and the limestone below which may contribute to the subtle mineral characteristics in Bâtard-Montrachet wines.