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Domaine Blain-Gagnard
WINERY OVERVIEW
Domaine Blain-Gagnard was formed in 1980 when Jean-Marc Blain (a Sancerrois) married
Claudine Gagnard, youngest daughter of Jacques and Marie-Josèphe Gagnard of Domaine
Gagnard-Delagrange. The couple runs this venerable domaine with the help of their son Marc-
Antonin. Jean-Marc Blain and Claudine Gagnard met while they were both studying oenology
at Dijon. The estate’s vineyards come mainly from grandparents and other relatives of Claudine,
along with a few purchases. The vines are planted in Chardonnay (55%) and the rest in pinot
noir, with a small parcel of Passetoutgrain. They now control 20.5 acres (8.3 hectacres)
of vines in Chassagne-Montrachet, including holdings in three grands crus: Le Montrachet,
Bâtard-Montrachet, and Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet.
LOCATION OF VINEYARD
Chassagne-Montrachet lies towards the southern end of the Côte de Beaune and is famous
for its white wines, although half of its total plantings are in red. In addition to the Grand
Crus, Blain-Gagnard’s holdings in Chassagne-Montrachet include the red premier crus
of Clos Saint Jean and Morgeot, and the white premier crus of Morgeot, Boudriotte, and
Cailleret. Additionally, the domaine holds premier cru parcels of Volnay Chanlin, Volnay
Pitures, and in the Pommard lieu-dit La Croix Planet les Combes. In addition to the Grand
Crus Bâtard-Montrachet and Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet, in 1999 they received a parcel of Le
Montrachet from Jacques Gagnard. From 2000 onward, Le Montrachet from this parcel is
made at and bottled as Domaine Blain-Gagnard. The vineyards are farmed by lutte raisonée
(“reasoned struggle.”)