En Virondot
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Chassagne-Montrachet's highest-elevation premier cru, farmed exclusively by Domaine Marc Morey and prized for extraordinary aging potential.
En Virondot is a 2.1-hectare premier cru in Chassagne-Montrachet, sitting at 350 meters, the commune's highest elevation. Domaine Marc Morey is the sole farmer and bottler of this south/southeast-facing climat. Winemaker Sabine Mollard considers it the longest-lived of all her premier cru bottlings.
- Size: 2.1 hectares total
- Elevation: 350 meters, one of the highest in Chassagne-Montrachet
- Aspect: South and southeast-facing
- Soils: Calcareous limestone with chalk
- Grape variety: Chardonnay only
- Sole producer: Domaine Marc Morey (Sabine Mollard, owner and winemaker)
- Neighbors: Les Caillerets, Les Fairendes, and Les Champs Gains lie to the east
Location and Setting
En Virondot sits at 350 meters above sea level on the western edge of Chassagne-Montrachet's premier cru zone, making it one of the highest-elevation vineyards in the appellation. The climat is positioned west of the well-known premier crus Les Caillerets, Les Fairendes, and Les Champs Gains. Its south and southeast-facing aspect maximizes sun exposure despite the elevated position, helping Chardonnay ripen fully even in cooler vintages.
- 350-meter elevation, among the highest in Chassagne-Montrachet
- South/southeast aspect for optimal sun exposure
- Located west of premier crus Les Caillerets, Les Fairendes, and Les Champs Gains
- Continental climate with warm dry summers and cool extended winters
Soils and Terroir
The soils at En Virondot are calcareous limestone with chalk, a combination that delivers the classic mineral tension Chassagne-Montrachet is known for on its white wine side. The high elevation adds a cooler microclimate relative to lower-lying premier crus, which translates into slower, more measured ripening. This extended growing season is widely credited for the vineyard's pronounced aging potential. The chalk component contributes the fine-grained texture and saline minerality that characterizes the wine.
- Calcareous limestone base with chalk
- Cooler temperatures at elevation slow ripening and build complexity
- Mineral-rich soils drive the wine's signature structure and longevity
Domaine Marc Morey: The Sole Producer
Domaine Marc Morey holds the distinction of being the only domaine that farms and bottles En Virondot. Sabine Mollard, the owner and winemaker, describes En Virondot as possessing the greatest aging potential of all her premier cru bottlings, a significant statement given that Chassagne-Montrachet's premier cru roster includes some of Burgundy's most celebrated white wine sites. The domaine's exclusive hold on this climat means production is extremely limited, and the wine rarely appears outside specialist Burgundy retailers.
- Domaine Marc Morey is the sole farmer and bottler
- Sabine Mollard serves as owner and winemaker
- Mollard rates En Virondot as her longest-lived premier cru
- Extremely limited production given the 2.1-hectare total size
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Open Wine Lookup →Wine Style and Aging
En Virondot produces white wine only, with Chardonnay as the sole permitted variety under Chassagne-Montrachet premier cru regulations. The combination of elevation, chalk-rich limestone soils, and southern aspect produces a wine that is mineral-driven, full-bodied, and built for the cellar. The wine's structure, with firm acidity and concentrated fruit, allows it to evolve over many years. Sabine Mollard's assessment of its aging superiority over her other premier crus underlines the site's genuine distinction within the appellation.
Mineral-driven Chardonnay with chalk-laced tension, full body, and concentrated stone fruit. Firm acidity and a saline, limestone-edged finish define the style. Built for the cellar, with complexity that develops significantly over time.
- Domaine Marc Morey Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru En Virondot$80-120The only bottling of En Virondot in existence; mineral, structured Chardonnay from Chassagne's highest premier cru.Find →
- En Virondot is 2.1 hectares, located at 350 meters, one of Chassagne-Montrachet's highest premier cru elevations
- Domaine Marc Morey is the sole producer, farmed and bottled exclusively by Sabine Mollard
- Soils are calcareous limestone with chalk, driving mineral character and aging structure
- South/southeast aspect compensates for high-elevation cooling, enabling full Chardonnay ripening
- Sabine Mollard identifies En Virondot as the longest-aging of her premier cru bottlings