Domaine Hubert Lamy : Chassagne-Montrachet 1er cru "Les Macherelles" 2021

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru "Les Macherelles" 2021 from Domaine Hubert Lamy

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a golden yellow hue with bright highlights.

Nose

The nose unveils a refined, complex bouquet, expressing aromas of white flowers, ripe pears and citrus fruits, notably notes of orange and lemon zest. A pronounced minerality reminiscent of flint and chalk emerges, accompanied by secondary nuances of hazelnut, dried fruits and subtle touches of toasted bread and honey that gradually develop with aeration.

Palate

On the palate, the wine is generous and concentrated, with a lovely, distinctive mineral tension. The attack is supple and rich, with a full-bodied texture that unfolds harmoniously toward a long, delicate finish. The terroir’s minerality is fully expressed on the finish, where chalky sensations and a slight mineral bitterness bring purity and definition. The preserved natural acidity provides vibrant freshness and remarkable persistence.

Food and wine pairings

This Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru "Les Macherelles" 2021 pairs perfectly with premium seafood such as grilled lobster, pan-seared scallops or turbot with beurre blanc. It also matches well with grilled spiny lobster, a delicate tart with Burgundy snails, parsley butter and young garlic, or delicate poultry in a cream and mushroom sauce. Cooked pressed cheeses such as aged Comté, Beaufort or Parmesan also make excellent pairings.

Serving and cellaring

The Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru "Les Macherelles" 2021 can be enjoyed now for its freshness and tension, but it will fully express its potential after a few additional years in bottle. This wine has an estimated cellaring potential through around 2033, or even beyond under optimal storage conditions.

A Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru combining Burgundy minerality and structural elegance

The estate

The Domaine Hubert Lamy was founded in 1973 by Hubert Lamy, continuing a family winegrowing tradition dating back to 1640. Since 1995, the estate has been run by Olivier and Karine Lamy, who have transformed this Saint-Aubin property into an international benchmark for white wines from Burgundy. Now spanning 18.5 hectares across Saint-Aubin, Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet and Santenay, the estate stands out for its revolutionary approach of very high-density plantings and an oenological philosophy focused on the purest expression of minerality with minimal use of new oak. Olivier Lamy has earned a reputation for excellence among international critics, placing the estate among the most talented producers in the Côte de Beaune.

The vineyard

The Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru "Les Macherelles" comes from a tiny parcel of just 0.16 hectares, planted in 1988 with Chardonnay. Located on the northern edge of the village of Chassagne-Montrachet, close to Puligny-Montrachet, this parcel benefits from an ideal east to southeast exposure. The clay-limestone soils, composed of white marls and rocky limestone, give the wine its hallmark minerality and structural tension. The vines, around 33 years old at the time of the 2021 vintage, produce concentrated fruit with remarkable depth and complexity.

The vintage

The winter of 2021 in Burgundy was marked by a frost episode that hit French vineyards with rare intensity. A milder spring encouraged flowering at the end of May, followed by particularly rainy months of June and July. Weather instability was observed from mid-July to mid-August, before more favorable conditions at the end of summer allowed for optimal ripening of the grapes, revealing berries of remarkable generosity and balance.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for the Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru "Les Macherelles" 2021 were harvested by hand at optimal ripeness and then immediately pressed using a pneumatic press for a long, gentle, progressive pressing. After a light settling, the juice was transferred to 300-liter barrels or intermediate-age 600-liter demi-muids. Fermentation was carried out with native yeasts under strict temperature control, maintaining low temperatures and extending fermentation to around 90 days. Total barrel aging continued for 12 to 18 months, during which malolactic fermentation took place. The wine underwent light bâtonnage during this extended aging on the lees, encouraging the development of complexity. In keeping with the estate’s philosophy, less than 2% new oak was used, preserving the purity of the terroir’s expression.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay