2018 Domaine Michel Niellon, Chassagne Montrachet, Burgundy, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

After harvest, the grapes are fermented in stainless steel tanks and then transferred to oak barrels to complete malolactic fermentation. They then spend 8-9 months in 20-30% new oak.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

The name of Niellon is one of the most established in Chassagne. Michel joined his father Marcel in the 1950s and began to domaine bottle all of their wines in the ‘60s. They soon built a reputation as one of Chassagne’s finest domaines, growing from the original 4ha to today’s 7.5ha holdings. The wines are now made by Michel’s son-in-law, Michel Coutoux, who continue to uphold the domaine’s reputation for the highest quality. No herbicides are used, ploughing is carried out to control weeds and a ‘lutte raisonnée’ approach is followed to combat mildew and other vineyard maladies. Picking is early, they want to retain acidity and freshness in the grapes. Fermentations take place in stainless steel before the wines are transferred to barrique, 20-30% new, for malolactic fermentation and ageing. Robert’s first ever ex-cellar purchase of Burgundy was here, five dozen Chassagne village in 1981 and we have worked with the domaine continuously since; with Michel’s Grandson Mathieu Bresson now joining the team and quality rising ever higher we look forward to the next 39 years!