Ropiteau Frères Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru 2022
Opulent and refined with delicate floral, verbena and hazelnut aromas preluding a rich, toasty and buttery palate with balancing mineral undertones and a long, exquisite finish.
In the southern part of the Côte de Beaune lies the appellation of Chassagne-Montrachet, which was created in 1937. It sits on a fine broad hillside which brings out the very highest expression of Chardonnay in a style that is typically minerally yet succulent, and often floral with hints of hazelnut. The grapes for this cuvée come from the 1er Cru vineyards located at altitudes of between 220 and 325 metres, where vast marble quarries form a rocky front. The limestone-based soil is stony, and the complex terroir consists of Rauracian steep slopes, Callovian slopes, Argovian marls and Bathonian limestone from the summit down. The grapes are carefully harvested by hand and manually sorted.
Gentle pressing took place in a pneumatic press which allows for perfect extraction of the juice without over pressing the grapes. The wine was vinified and aged in French oak barrels with a proportion of 20% new oak. Ageing took place on the lees, lasting for 10 to 15 months with occasional stirring contributing to the rich and complex texture.
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Alcoholic strength | 12.5% |
| Country | France |
| Region | Burgundy |
| Subregion | Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru |
| Grapes | Chardonnay 100% |
| Dry/Sweet value | 1 |
| Contains sulphites | Yes |
| Vegetarian | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Milk | No |
| Eggs | No |
| Organic | No |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Cork |
The arrival of the railway into Meursault in 1848 incited Jean Ropiteau to establish his own wine merchant house. At just 24-years-old, this young man, whose Burgundian family's roots date back to the 16th century, quickly realised that this new means of transport would enable him to promote the wines of Burgundy far and wide. The wine house expanded throughout the 20th century but remained faithful to its values. In 1940, Jean’s great-grandson, Auguste Ropiteau purchased the current Meursault cellars and a property in the Hospice de Beaune which he acquired for a modest price as it was a time when fine wine sales were hardly favourable. This proved to be a great success, and before long the Ropiteau name became synonymous with the ‘grand’ Meursault. By acquiring a remarkable patchwork of some of the finest parcels or ‘climats’ within the Golden Triangle, Ropiteau Frères has become a specialist in Côte de Beaune and most notably in Meursault. The wines display all the hallmarks of fine Burgundy expressing the nuances of the climats from this renowned terroir.
