La Maltroie
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A storied premier cru in Chassagne-Montrachet, rooted in Roman history and known for wines of elegant mineral complexity.
La Maltroie is a Chassagne-Montrachet premier cru producing white and red wines from nearly 3 hectares of stony limestone soils. The climat sits at 240-255m elevation with a south-easterly to east-facing aspect, delivering white wines of generous texture and fresh acidity. Its name traces back to a Latin root linked to an ancient Roman necropolis.
- Classified as Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru AOC
- Area: almost 3 hectares in total
- Elevation: 240-255 metres above sea level
- Aspect: south-easterly to east-facing
- Soils: stony clay with brown calcareous and marly clay-limestone banks
- Both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are planted
- Name derives from the Latin 'Marturetum', linked to a pre-4th century Roman necropolis
Location and Setting
La Maltroie sits within the Chassagne-Montrachet appellation on the Côte de Beaune in Burgundy. The climat covers almost 3 hectares at elevations of 240 to 255 metres, oriented south-easterly to east-facing. This orientation ensures good morning sun exposure while keeping the vines from excessive afternoon heat, a balance that supports measured ripening and preserves natural acidity.
- Located in Chassagne-Montrachet, Côte de Beaune
- Elevation range of 240-255 metres
- South-easterly and east-facing aspect
- Continental climate with Atlantic moderating influence
Soils and Geology
The soils of La Maltroie are characterised by stony clay composition with alternating banks of marly clay and limestone underneath, classified broadly as brown calcareous soils. This combination of stoniness, which promotes drainage and heat retention, and the calcareous bedrock, which contributes mineral tension and structure, is typical of the finest sites across Chassagne-Montrachet. The limestone parent material is integral to the chalky, mineral character found in the white wines.
- Stony clay topsoils with good drainage
- Brown calcareous soils over marly clay-limestone subsoils
- Limestone bedrock contributes mineral complexity
- Soil structure supports both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
History and Name Origin
The name Maltroie, sometimes shortened to just Maltroie, derives from the Latin word 'Marturetum'. The site is connected to an ancient Roman necropolis dating from before the 4th century AD, making it one of the more historically layered lieux-dits in Chassagne-Montrachet. This depth of history underscores how deeply woven viticulture and human settlement have been in this part of Burgundy since antiquity.
- Name comes from the Latin 'Marturetum'
- Associated with a Roman necropolis predating the 4th century
- One of the historically documented sites in Chassagne-Montrachet
- Also known simply as Maltroie
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Open Wine Lookup →Wine Style and Character
La Maltroie produces both white wines from Chardonnay and red wines from Pinot Noir. The whites are the more celebrated, offering elegant structure with a generously proportioned middle palate, mineral complexity, and fresh supporting acidity. The combination of the calcareous soils and east-facing aspect yields wines that retain brightness while developing textural richness with age. The red wines are less frequently encountered but follow the lighter, aromatic style typical of Chassagne-Montrachet rouge.
- Chardonnay whites show mineral complexity and generous mid-palate
- Fresh acidity gives wines longevity and structure
- Pinot Noir reds produced in smaller volumes
- Style reflects elegant rather than powerful Côte de Beaune expression
Notable Producers
Several respected domaines and négociants hold vines in La Maltroie. Château de la Maltroye takes its name directly from the climat and is among the most historically rooted producers there. Other notable names include Domaine Bernard Moreau, Domaine Fontaine Gagnard, Domaine Alex Moreau, Domaine de la Vougeraie, Vincent Girardin, and Louis Latour. The diversity of ownership across small family domaines and larger négociant houses reflects the broader ownership patterns seen across Chassagne-Montrachet premier crus.
- Château de la Maltroye is the name-sharing estate
- Domaine Bernard Moreau and Domaine Fontaine Gagnard are family domaines of note
- Louis Latour and Vincent Girardin represent négociant representation
- Domaine de la Vougeraie adds cross-appellation perspective
White wines from La Maltroie show elegant texture with a full, generous middle palate, mineral tension from limestone soils, and fresh acidity. Expect notes of white stone fruit, chalk, and subtle floral elements, with the east-facing aspect preserving brightness and length.
- Château de la Maltroye Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru La Maltroie$80-120The name-bearing estate; benchmark expression of the climat with full mineral complexity and texture.Find →
- Domaine Bernard Moreau Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru La Maltroie$70-110Respected family domaine producing precise, mineral-driven Chassagne whites from this climat.Find →
- Domaine Fontaine Gagnard Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru La Maltroie$65-100Consistent, elegant style from one of Chassagne's most reliable family producers.Find →
- La Maltroie is classified as Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru AOC and covers almost 3 hectares
- The name derives from the Latin 'Marturetum', connected to a Roman necropolis predating the 4th century
- Soils are stony clay over brown calcareous and marly clay-limestone banks, typical of the Côte de Beaune
- The aspect is south-easterly to east-facing at 240-255m elevation, supporting fresh acidity in the whites
- Both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are planted, with white wine production the more celebrated