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Chassagne-Montrachet lies at the southern end of the "Côte des Blancs," the four mile strip of the Côte de Beaune in which Puligny, Meursault and Blagny are also situated, collectively producing the most revered white wines of Burgundy. Chassagne-Montrachet covers 867 acres, of which 31 are occupied by the three great white grands crus of Le Montrachet and Bâtard-Montrachet, shared with Puligny-Montrachet, and Criots- Bâtard-Montrachet, situated solely in Chassagne-Montrachet. Of the balance, 392 acres are in seventeen premiers crus comprised of a total of 54 parcels, all of which are ranked premier cru both for red and white wines; these are augmented by another 243 acres of red vines under the Côte de Beaune-Villages appellation. Chassagne-Montrachet is the only commune of the Côte de Blancs in which red wine production surpasses that of white by a margin of just under three to two in a total average annual production of 10,484 hectolitres (116,490 cases). The name "Chassagne," or "Chassaigne," is derived from the common Latin word "cassina," meaning a small house. Its bucolic village, noted for its truffles as well as its wine, has been a viticultural area since the third century. although it was not until the 1800s that wine outdistanced wheat. The 8.3-acre vineyard of La Romanée lies near the southern end of Chassagne-Montrachet on a southeasterly- exposed hillside almost reaching the summit of the commune's slope. It shares, not surprisingly, the place- name of "La Grande Montagne" with three other vineyards scattered at the top of this slope: En Virondot, with 5.6 acres; Les Grandes Ruchottes, with 5.3 acres; and the tiny La Grande Montagne proper, with 1.2 acres. Maison Louis Jadot maintains purchase arrangements with growers in this climat based on the quality of the harvest in each vintage. Typical of the wines from the upper reaches of the hillside, Chassagne-Montrachet La Romanée is a comparatively feminine, elegant Chassagne, charming and refined rather than robust, with a lovely, fragrant Chardonnay bouquet and notes of minerals and earth on the palate.
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