Chambolle-Musigny

Chambolle-Musigny is a small village in the Côte de Nuits, in the Côte d'Or, set between Morey-Saint-Denis to the north and Vougeot to the south. The double name dates from 1878, when Chambolle added to its own name that of Musigny, the most celebrated of its climats. The name was soon protected: in 1929 a court ruling reserved its use for fine wines harvested in a delimited part of the commune, and the AOC, created on September 11, 1936, was among the first recognized in France.

The east-facing vineyards stretch between 250 and 300 meters. The soil is thin and soon gives way to hard Jurassic limestones, into whose fissures the roots reach deep. Chambolle's red is known for finesse rather than power: brilliant ruby color, aromas of violet, raspberry, and strawberry that turn with age toward forest floor and truffle, silky tannins, and moderate acidity.

The Village and Premier Cru appellations are reserved for red from Pinot Noir. There are 24 Premier Cru climats, among them Les Amoureuses, which borders Musigny. The two Grands Crus sit at opposite ends of the vineyard: to the north Bonnes-Mares, which continues for a short stretch into Morey-Saint-Denis, and to the south Musigny, above the Clos de Vougeot, the only Grand Cru of the Côte de Nuits also made as a white. The commune lies within the core zone of the UNESCO site “Climats du vignoble de Bourgogne,” inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2015.