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The commune of Chambolle-Musigny lies just north of Vougeot and south of Morey-Saint-Denis on two steep slopes at either end of the commune which rise above the village of Chambolle in the valley between them. Its vineyards occupy 423 acres, 223 of which produce Chambolle's village wines, and an additional 150 acres divided among 24 premiers crus. The remaining 40 acres are in the commune's two grands crus: Le Musigny, at the southern extremity, and Bonnes-Mares, at the northern extremity, a small part of which spills into Morey-Saint-Denis. Of Chambolle-Musigny's annual average production of 5,404 hectolitres (60,044 cases) of wine, all but seven are red; the 900-odd bottles of white are exclusively from the minuscule grand cru vineyard of Le Musigny Blanc. The commune of Chambolle and its village are transversed by the Little River Grône, ordinarily a peaceful body of water. But for centuries, occasional downpours have transformed it into a savage, torrential flood submerging streets and cellars. The persistence of this behavior is evidenced by the Latin name "Campus Ebulliens," or "boiling field," from which by 1110 "Cambola," and later "Chambolle," evolved. It was only later planted in vines, during the 1200s, by the monks of Vougeot. Chambolle-Musigny is unique in the Côte de Nuits for the chalky composition of its soils (unlike the clay soils relevant elsewhere). The thin, calcareous layer clings to a hard rocky soil beneath, which stresses the vines and sharply restricts their yield; village and premier cru production is less than 15 hectolitres per hectare, one- third of the legal maximum. But these soils are responsible for Chambolle-Musigny's exceptional delicacy and a character possessed by no other wine of the Côte de Nuits. André Gagey supplies wines from a parcel of one acre he acquired in 1992 situated at the border of Morey- Saint-Denis and planted in vines of 20 years' age. These are blended with production of other growers in Chambolle with whom Maison Louis holds purchase agreements. The wine is a classic Chambolle-Musigny of sublime finesse. Its subtle red-berry and violet fragrance is repeated in the silken flavors on the palate, and supported by a firm yet delicate tannic structure and lovely, complex finish.
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