A gloomy weekend in Paris? Escape the gloom and let yourself be transported by the enchantment of Burgundy.

An enchanting journey south of the Route des Grands Crus

Just a few hours from the capital, south of Dijon, stretches a sixty-kilometer trail that has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2015. Take the D122 and discover the “Champs-Elysées du Vin”, lined with red and gold vineyards. Crossing the Côte de Nuits, the kingdom of the Reds, you’ll soon discover the sumptuous Côte de Beaune, with its poetic village names: Pommard, Monthélie, Saint-Aubin. Further south, the illustrious Château de Meursault rises majestically, not far from the famous Montrachet hill and the twin communes of Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet.

A name steeped in history

It’s in the latter village that we invite you to take a time out, between history and geography, poetry and gastronomy. The commune has had its own AOC since 1937, but is also home to 55 Premier Cru climats and 3 Grands Crus with legendary names: Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet and Criots-Batârd-Montrachet. Mythical, because their names are rooted in legend. The Montrachet hilltop was then the home of a wealthy squire, who had the misfortune to see his only son, christened Chevalier, die in battle (hence the name Grand Cru Chevalier-Montrachet). Mad with despair, the squire decided to recognize his second illegitimate son and make him his heir. The name of the vines from which the village’s last Grand Cru comes is derived from the Burgundian dialect “a crio (he cries) l’Bâtard”, after the incessant crying of the infant. This may explain Chassagne’s 3 Grands Crus, and its 4 Puligny neighbors. Other, less folkloric explanations exist, but this one remains the favorite in the Burgundian mind.

But a living myth

Spread across the 3 levels of Burgundy appellations (AOC Village, AOC Village 1e Cru and AOC Grand Cru), Chassagne-Montrachet wines enjoy international renown. The cause? Ideally sloped hillsides, east-facing exposure and, above all, a wide variety of soil layers. Marls and brown soils rub shoulders with marble stone quarries, from which the flagstones of the Trocadero and the Louvre are derived. But above all, the famous Montrachet hill (Mont-rachis means Mont-chauve, a hill where nothing grows except low vegetation) protects the vines from temperature variations and creates an ideal microclimate.

No wonder then that Grand Cru Montrachet is often called “the king of white wines”. Fortunately for our wallets, the white wines of Chassagne-Montrachet, which account for 60% of production, are not just Grands Crus! These white wines are dry but generous. On the palate, we find the roundness and buttery, even toasty notes typical of Chardonnay (often aged in oak barrels). But also a fresher side of minerality, white flowers and hazelnut. With age, Chassagne-Montrachet blanc develops notes of honey and ripe pear. In short, you’ll never be disappointed!

Time to eat!

You can find Chassagne-Montrachet white AOC Village wines at Bichot from around 40 euros, or discover permaculture at the home of the Appellation’s director himself, Armand Heitz, who cultivates Premier Cru parcels such as Chenevottes and Tête du Clos.

In terms of food and wine pairing, Burgundy tradition immediately suggests snails, or poularde de Bresse with preserved lemon. If you’re tempted by Asian flavors, Chassagne wines are also a perfect match for a salmon wok with red curry and baby vegetables. Serve Chassagne wines at around 12°, or even 14° if they’ve been around a few years.