Appellation Guide: Chambolle-Musigny AOC (Burgundy, France)

Chambolle-Musigny is one of the great appellations of the Cote d'Or, its wines so often sing with rich, energised red fruit and flamboyance. It's long and distinguished history has given way to a prestigious reputation for some of the world's great wines. Today, with a population of just 400 people, it is still one of the key red Burgundy villages.

Historically it was known as Musigny, but as was the way with several villages in the area, local politics induced a fashion of renaming the village by affixing the names of great vineyards to it. Hence, Chambolle became Chambolle-Musigny in the same way that Puligny became Puligny-Montrachet.

The village itself sits at 350 metres and the vineyards lie to the sloping hill to the east. Plots at the very top and the very bottom of the hill only qualify for basic village level wine, while the sites that occupy the middle of the slope make up the premier and grand cru sites.

The majority of wines are made with 100% Pinot Noir, although a small amount of Chardonnay is produced, and most notably in the Grand Cru vineyard Musigny. Gran Cru Musigny is certainly one the best Grand Cru wines and while not as broad or indeed coloured as others, always beguiles with aromatic and fragrant perfumes.

There are two Grand Crus in Chambolle Musigny AOC.

Bonnes-Mares AOC: Domaine Dujac | Henri Boillot |

Musigny AOC:

There are also 24 Premier Cru vineyards which for a village of this size represents an impressive number. This classification was last reviewed in 1988.

  • Aux Beaux Bruns: (Thierry Mortet)
  • Aux Combottes
  • Aux Echanges: (Perrot-Minot)
  • Derrière la Grange
  • La Combe d'Orveau (Domaine Jean Grivot, Domaine Taupenot Merme, Sylvain Cathiard)
  • Les Amoureuses: (Robert Groffier)
  • Les Baudes (Joseph Drouhin)
  • Les Borniques
  • Les Carrières
  • Les Chabiots
  • Les Charmes (Domaine Alain Hudelot-Noellat)
  • Les Chatelots
  • Les Combottes
  • Les Cras
  • Les Feusselottes: Sometimes spelt with just one t.
  • Les Fuées (Faiveley)
  • Les Groseilles
  • Les Gruenchers
  • Les Hauts Doix
  • Les Lavrottes: (Olivier Bernstein)
  • Les Noirots
  • Les Plantes
  • Les Sentiers: (Robert Groffier)
  • Les Véroilles

Recommended Producers: Château de Chambolle-Musigny | Domaine Gilbert et Christine Felettig | Domaine de la Pousse d'Or | Patrice Rion |