Fine bright concentrated but very backward. There is huge weight of fruit, really lovely and very long, not excessively plump but really well constructed like a block of marble. An exceptionally intense grand cru, drink 2019-2026.

Bernard Morey, and he met his wife Sophie, originally from neighbouring Santenay, when they found themselves working side by side in the vineyards. They set up their own domaine after Bernard’s retirement, beginning with the 2007 vintage. Vincent began picking on 3rd October, starting with the whites. He thinks that Chassagne and Santenay were less badly affected than other areas by the stormy weekend, in contrast to 2010. All the whites have been in bottle since mid-August with the reds following before the end of the year.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director

Since 1989 Caroline l’Estimé has been in charge of Domaine Jean-Noël Gagnard in their small cellar in Chassagne-Montrachet.  Caroline has fine-tuned the holdings, increasing the number of white wine cuvées since her father’s time by separating out each different vineyard. Caroline barrel-ferments all her whites before ageing them for up to 18 months in oak casks. These wines truly reflect their terroirs and combine intensity and richness with elegance and balance.

Another magical wine from Caroline. Heavenly bright fruit on the nose leads to a really energetic palate, with dancing fruit, bright ripe lemons and good acidity. The stones of Les Caillerets are definitely singing and dancing this year.

Burgundy 2012 En Primeur - Staff Favourite
Subtle on the nose at first, quite closed but building, lots going on here. Quite astonishing on the palate; complex and delineated, ripe white-fleshed fruit with saline notes, long and mineral, yet fine and elegant, power, class and finesse. A beautiful wine.
Chris Pollington, Fine Wine

It seemed like Jean-Noel Gagnard could do nothing wrong in 2012 and tasting the range of wines was a real joy. Caillerets comes from the centre of the appellation (above Champs Gain) and shows an almost Grand Cru like texture. There is a core of dense exotic fruit with a finish that goes on and on. Brilliant.  
Fine Wine Team

Bright pale yellow in colour, with power and perfume to the nose, but the details need more time to come to the fore. In the mouth the fruit explodes in brilliant fashion, showing the class of this great vineyard. Excellent weight but not yet showing the harmony that will come.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director

Caroline Gagnard, who has been running her father’s domaine since 1989, is happier with the quality than the quantity in 2012. There will be no Hautes Côtes de Beaune for us this year and very little village Chassagne, but Caroline has been kind enough to look after us as much as possible in our favourite Premier Cru vineyards. Her red wines are also very attractive this year. She tends to make the reds for relatively early drinking, but Caroline’s whites have an excellent track record for ageing very well. These 2012s are chock full of energy, and reflect their different vineyard sites very clearly.

Chassagne-Montrachet Les Caillerets 1er Cru has a very discreet bouquet with an underlying sense of elegance. The fruit stretches out marvellously across the palate, making this a hauntingly fine wine with marvellous persistence, right through to the steely finish.

Fine, fresh and fragrant, this complete, elegant wine has perfect poise on the palate and an impeccable finish, reflecting the quality of its renowned terroir; this is high class Chassagne Montrachet indeed.

The nose here is mineral and exciting, the body perfectly poised. This is a stunning wine with class, precision and persistence. Caillerets is a great vineyard, don't hesitate!
Jasper Morris MW, Berrys' Burgundy Director Though 2011 has the reputation of being a large vintage for white wines, this was not the case at Domaine Jean-Noël Gagnard, where many vineyards produced little more than 30 hl/ha. Caroline Gagnard has converted the vineyards to organic farming and the quality of the grapes is evident in this superb range of wines. As ever, this is an outstanding source of Chassagne-Montrachet.

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Bright in colour again, with a light green tint, the nose has fruit and floral notes, while the palate retains the elegance and marries it to a rich cashmere weight. There are pears and yellow plums, with huge density behind and intense power. It just needs a little longer in barrel to come together completely. Drink 2019-2025.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

The sometimes hesitant Caroline Gagnard was in confident mood when showing us her excellent range of 2015s, and rightly so. Poor conditions during flowering have resulted in a small crop in red, but somewhat better for white. Caroline began picking on 31st August and thinks that 2015 resembles a mix of 2010, ‘12 and ‘13, describing the wines as being both “glace et sorbet” – ie with the fresh precision of a sorbet and the richer texture of ice-cream.