Jean Noel Gagnard Les Caillerets 1er cru, Chassagne-Montrachet

The exact meaning of ‘Les Caillerets’ is uncertain but it is an old French word for stones, and the soils of this first-growth vineyard are very pebbly. The JNG parcel, barely more than one hectare facing south-east at 300-310m at the southern end... ‘gives a beautifully balanced, precise wine with marvellous purity of fruit and a long crisp finish’ (Norman & Taylor, Great Domaines of Burgundy). Grapes are hand-picked and sorted, then gently pressed, settled and transferred to barrels for natural fermentation followed by 18 months maturation in Tronçais and Allier oak, one-third new. The final wine is a selection of the best barrels.

Caroline Lestimé has enhanced the reputation of this fine producer since taking over from her famous father, Jean Noel Gagnard, in 1989.

Jean Noel Gagnard handed his eponymous Domaine to his daughter Caroline Lestimé in 1989. She had studied business in Paris, before returning to the village to take over the reins of the family estate, and had to handle male chauvinism at its most rampant. Nonetheless, she has followed her own convictions, and enhanced (rather than diminished) the reputation of this fine producer. In the vineyard, she uses no fertilisers or herbicides, but has not taken hold of the biodynamic bible.- James Halliday