The Côte Chalonnaise can be described as an organisation of small“vineyard islands” which are more or less separated from each other. It spreads north, from Chagny, where it meets the Côte de Beaune, to Saint-Gengoux-le-National in the south, thus touching the Mâconnais region. The total vineyard surface is about 4,000 hectares.
THE VILLAGES
GIVRY
Vineyard of 309 hectares: 250 hectares in red wines (Pinot Noir) and 59 hectares in white wines (Chardonnay). 165 hectares in Village Appellation (124 hectares in reds and 41 hectares in whites) and 144 hectares in Premier Cru (126 hectares in reds and 18 hectares in whites).
Givry is a place name that has the same origins as Gevrey. The oldest forms, which are Gibriacus (630) and Gebriacus (850), suggest the Gallo-Roman anthroponym “gabrius” from the Celtic “gabros” (goat) the suffix -acum indicates possession.
In the hilly Côte Chalonnaise landscape, the vines are planted on slopes of chalky-clay soil with limestone subsoil and facing south and southeast.
The vineyards of Givry spread across the communes of Givry, Jambles and Dracy-le-Fort.
Claude Courtépée and the winegrowers of the du village recount that King Henri IV chose this wine as his favourite.
MERCUREY
Vineyards of 646 hectares: 530 hectares in red wines (Pinot Noir) and 116 hectares in white wines (Chardonnay). 480 hectares in Village Appellation (385 hectares in reds and 95 hectares in whites) and 165 hectares in Premier Cru (145 hectares in reds and 20 hectares in whites).
Mercurey was named after Mercury, the god of commerce and messenger of the gods in Roman mythology. The village was successively spelled Mercureis in 577, Mercuriacum in 885, then Mercuriacus in 942 and Mercoriacus in the eleventhth century.
Spreading across the communes of Mercurey and Saint-Martin-sous-Montaigu, Mercurey is, without a doubt, the best known of the Côte Chalonnaise wines.
The village of Mercurey is well exposed to the midday sun, on a steep slope at the foot of a limestone ledge overlooking a transverse cut of the topography.
The wine has a ruby-red hue and evokes raspberry, strawberry, cherry, and crisp fruit. With age, it develops hints of undergrowth and spicy aromas of tobacco and cocoa beans. On the palate, it is a full-bodied wine, rich in texture and fruit. tanins They can sometimes provide a mineral firmness in their early youth. Pretty rondeur fleshy when mature.
MONTAGNY
Vineyard of 362 hectares, exclusively in white wines (Chardonnay). 142 hectares in Village Appellation and 220 hectares in Premier Cru.
The production area spreads across the villages of Montagny-lès-Buxy, Buxy, Saint-Vallerin and Jully-lès-Buxy.
The “Montagny” appellation includes 49 Premier Cru “climats”. The best known within this group are: Montcuchot, Les Coères and Les Chaniots (or Chagnots). They are generally located in the intermediary zones of Montagny and often rise up to the top of the slopes.
Montagny, exclusively white, presents itself visually with the classic characteristics of a Burgundian Chardonnay: clear, golden, discreet with green highlights, then buttercup yellow with age. Its typical aromas evoke acacia, hawthorn, honeysuckle, bramble blossom, sometimes violet and fern. On a more vibrant note, lemongrass and flint also emerge. Hazelnut and honey are unsurprising, as are white peach and pear. On the palate, it is a fresh, youthful wine with character, lively and approachable, rich with lingering spicy aromas. The finesse and delicacy of the taste are balanced by a structured body. structured and sustainable.
RULLY
Vineyard of 366 hectares: 248 hectares in white wines (Chardonnay) and 118 hectares in red wines (Pinot noir). 268 hectares in Village Appellation (178 hectares in white and 90 in red) and 98 hectares in Premier Cru (70 hectares in white and 28 hectares in red).
A renowned white wine. Golden with green highlights, a deeper buttercup hue with age, it excels in aromas of "hedgerow flowers" such as acacia, hawthorn, honeysuckle, a very delicate elderflower, or even violet, lemon, white peach, or flint. Time brings forth notes of honey, quince, and dried fruit. On the palate, it is fruity, with vibrant fruit and round, fat and long: all the freshness and polish of marble.
The Rully Appellation is located in the communes of Rully and Chagny. The vineyards themselves form the outline of a bean.
Among the Burgundy wines from the Côte Chalonnaise terroir, we offer you the chance to taste red and white wines aged in oak barrels or vats. The distinctive feature of these appellations of controlled origin is that they offer a wide range of aromas with scents of black fruits, white flowers, dried fruits, citrus fruits, etc. The grapes or berries come from several grape varieties, mainly Aligoté, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. The Côte Chalonnaise produces great red wines that pair perfectly with Charolais meat (the village of Charolles is just a stone's throw away) and great white wines that will accompany local AOC goat cheeses and Bresse poultry, also raised nearby, on the other side of the Saône.
