Monthélie Premier Cru Le Château Gaillard

Le Château Gaillard sits within the commune of Monthélie in the Côte de Beaune, positioned above the Clos Gauthey vineyard. The site rises between 260 and 300 meters elevation with a south-southeast facing aspect, a combination that ensures good sun exposure across the growing season while the higher altitude tempers temperatures. Monthélie itself is a compact, relatively overlooked commune tucked between Volnay and Meursault, and its Premier Crus occupy the hillside slopes characteristic of this part of the Côte de Beaune.

The soils at Le Château Gaillard are marno-calcareous in character, built on a limestone base interspersed with clay and marl. This classic Burgundian soil profile provides good drainage while retaining sufficient moisture for the vine through dry periods. The climate is cool with oceanic influence, typical of the Côte de Beaune, and the south-southeast aspect of this particular vineyard maximizes the available sunlight to achieve consistent ripening despite that coolness.

• Limestone base with clay and marl components
• Marno-calcareous profile supports both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
• Cool Burgundian climate with oceanic influence
• South-southeast aspect optimizes sun exposure at altitude

Le Château Gaillard carries one of the longer documented histories among Monthélie's Premier Crus. The Comité d'Agriculture in Beaune ranked it in the première classe category in 1861, placing it among the top-rated vineyards of the commune at a time when such classifications carried significant commercial weight. That early recognition reflects the quality potential of the site, and it remains one of 15 officially recognized Premier Cru vineyards within the Monthélie appellation today.

Le Château Gaillard produces both red and white wines, reflecting the dual-variety planting of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on the site. The white wines show a golden color with flavors of apple, hazelnut, and white flowers, a profile consistent with Chardonnay grown on limestone-rich soils at moderate altitude. The red wines are described as soft and fruity, in keeping with the lighter, more approachable style that characterizes many Monthélie reds compared to the more structured wines of neighboring Volnay. Notable producers working this vineyard include Garaudet Père et Fils and Philippe Pacalet.

• White wines: golden color, apple, hazelnut, and white flower aromas
• Red wines: soft, fruity style with approachable structure
• Garaudet Père et Fils and Philippe Pacalet are key producers
• Dual production of red and white is relatively uncommon at this Premier Cru level