Les Embrazées
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A prestige premier cru at the southwest edge of Chassagne-Montrachet, prized for its shallow limestone soils and south-facing aspect.
Les Embrazées is a premier cru vineyard in Chassagne-Montrachet producing refined Chardonnay from shallow limestone soils. Located at the southwest boundary with Santenay, it sits within the larger Bois de Chassagne premier cru but commands its own prestigious designation. Producers consistently prefer labeling under the Embrazées name.
- Premier Cru classification within Chassagne-Montrachet, Côte de Beaune
- Located at the southwest end of Chassagne-Montrachet on the border with Santenay
- South-facing aspect maximizes sun exposure
- Reddish, shallow, stony soils over limestone bedrock
- Part of the larger Bois de Chassagne Premier Cru; producers prefer the Embrazées designation for its prestige
- Both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are permitted; dry white wine is the primary style
- Notable producers include multiple members of the Morey family dynasty in Chassagne
Location and Setting
Les Embrazées occupies the southwest corner of Chassagne-Montrachet, sitting directly on the communal border with Santenay. This peripheral position within the appellation gives the vineyard a distinct character shaped by its transition zone between two of the Côte de Beaune's most respected communes. The south-facing slope ensures generous sun exposure throughout the growing season, a key advantage in Burgundy's cool continental climate.
Soils and Terroir
The soils of Les Embrazées are characteristically reddish, shallow, and stony, underlain by limestone bedrock. This combination of limited topsoil depth and free-draining stony material forces vine roots downward into the parent rock, concentrating flavors and producing wines with the mineral tension typical of great Chassagne premier crus. The reddish hue reflects a higher iron oxide content, a signature of many top sites along the southern Côte de Beaune.
Classification and Naming
Les Embrazées holds premier cru status and forms part of the broader Bois de Chassagne premier cru block. Under Burgundy appellation rules, producers may label wines under either the Bois de Chassagne or Les Embrazées designation. In practice, the majority choose Les Embrazées, recognizing its stronger market reputation and the commercial advantage that comes with a well-known vineyard name. Alternate spellings in the market include Embazées and Les Embazees, though Les Embrazées is the official form.
- Official name: Les Embrazées
- Alternate spellings: Embazées, Les Embazees
- Producers may use Bois de Chassagne but favor the Embrazées label
- Appellation: Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru
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White Chardonnay is the dominant style from Les Embrazées, though Pinot Noir is also permitted. The Morey family name appears prominently among producers, with Vincent and Sophie Morey, Thomas Morey, and Bernard Morey all working within the climat, reflecting the deep roots that several Chassagne families have in this site. Benjamin Leroux, Lucien Belland-Tremeau, and Lucien Le Moine round out a roster of respected producers spanning both grower-domaines and négociant houses.
- Vincent and Sophie Morey: family domaine with long ties to Chassagne
- Thomas Morey: noted for precise, mineral-driven whites
- Benjamin Leroux: respected négociant producing site-specific cuvées
- Lucien Le Moine: boutique négociant focused on premier and grand cru sites
Chassagne-Montrachet premier cru whites from Les Embrazées typically show a combination of ripe stone fruit, particularly white peach and nectarine, alongside notes of hazelnut, toasted brioche, and a pronounced mineral, almost chalky character derived from the limestone-dominant soils. The south-facing slope delivers good natural ripeness, balanced by the freshness that shallow soils and well-drained limestone provide. Expect medium to full body, well-integrated oak, and a finish with real length and salinity.
- Thomas Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Embrazées$80-110Benchmark producer with family roots in Chassagne; precise, mineral whites from this specific climat.Find →
- Vincent & Sophie Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Embrazées$75-100Family domaine offering authentic, terroir-driven expression of this south-facing premier cru site.Find →
- Benjamin Leroux Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Embrazées$90-120Respected négociant known for low-intervention, site-specific Burgundy whites with excellent aging potential.Find →
- Les Embrazées is a Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru located at the southwest border with Santenay
- Soils are reddish, shallow, and stony over limestone, a signature of quality Côte de Beaune sites
- The vineyard is legally part of the Bois de Chassagne premier cru block; producers may use either name
- Producers prefer the Embrazées designation for prestige and market recognition
- Both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are permitted, but dry white wine is the dominant style