2012 Chassagne Montrachet
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Tasting notes
Very little aroma at the moment. Just a hint of lemon and cut wood. Bright but rather soft overall. Not a great deal of substance. But unexpectedly persistent. (JH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2012 Chassagne-Montrachet Village has a light, butterscotch-tinged bouquet that is clean and fresh. The palate is a little simple with primal melon and toffee-tinged fruit leading to a rather hollow finish. As an admirer of Michel Niellon wines, especially after a divine Chevalier-Montrachet 1986 earlier this year, it is with heavy heart that I have to report that this appears to be one producer unbalanced and compromised by the inclemency of 2012. Hail severely damaged several of their prime vineyards. Batard-Montrachet was reduced down to a nub, while propitious premier crus the calibre of “Chenevottes” was akin to a child being pushed off their bicycle. In Burgundy, I am afraid there are no stabilizers. Still, on September 19 they harvested what they could and bottled everything, including their Chevalier-Montrachet, at the beginning of September. Michel’s son-in-law Michel Coutoux and grandson Mathieu took me through these wines, which seemed to lack the vigor and precision that I found elsewhere and within the domaine’s own wines in previous vintages. I am sure they will be back on form next year. Importer: Diageo Chateau and Estate Wines Company, New York, NY; tel. (707) 299-2600
About the producer
From the heart of Chassagne-Montrachet, Domaine Michel Niellon embodies generations of craftsmanship and Burgundian finesse, producing elegant, terroir-driven wines from just 8 hectares.