Cote Chalonnaise Wine Region: 10 Classy Bottles, Vineyards, Appellations

Cote Chalonnaise is a historic wine-growing region in Burgundy, France. 

The region grows mainly Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Aligoté and smaller quantities of other grape varieties like Gamay and Pinot Gris. 

The entire Côte Chalonnaise region comprises five wine-producing communes that make a diverse range of delicious wines. 

Let’s discover everything about Cote Chalonnaise, its best wines, and five outstanding appellations.

The Côte Chalonnaise Region: Vineyards, and Winemaking 

Cote Chalonnaise lies south of the Côte d’Or region (comprising the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune appellations) and is integral to the Burgundy wine production.

The 4,000-hectare vineyard lands cover over 100 plots with the Premier Cru designation. However, the wine region doesn’t have any Grand Cru vineyards.

The hilly terrain protects the vines from frostbite and hailstorms and creates the perfect ripening conditions in the vineyard sites. 

The wine region enjoys a well-balanced, continental climate with warm summers and cool winters. The limestone soil deposits contain sand, clay, marl, and iron, giving the wines a distinct minerality.  

The winemaking practices include: 

• Fermentation: The fermentation is done in oak barrels, and some top wine producers use 100% new French oak barrels to impart more flavor to their wines. 
• Aging: The Cote Chalonnaise wines are aged for about six to ten months before bottling. 

10 Best Cote Chalonnaise Wines (Including Tasting Notes, Prices)

Here are some of the most outstanding Cote Chalonnaise wines: 

1. 1995 Domaine A. & P. de Villaine Bourgogne Cote Chalonnaise La Digoine, Burgundy, France ($123)
2. 2018 Domaine du Cellier aux Moines Givry 'Clos Pascal' Monopole, Cote Chalonnaise, France ($116)
3. 2019 Domaine A & P de Villaine Gresigny, Rully Premier Cru, France ($101)
4. 1992 Domaine Faiveley Mercurey, Cote Chalonnaise, France ($95)
5. 1988 Domaine de Villaine Bouzeron, Cote Chalonnaise, France ($90)
6. 2013 Louis Max Les Vasees, Mercurey Premier Cru, France ($60)
7. 2018 Domaine Ramonet Bouzeron, Cote Chalonnaise, France ($56)
8. 2018 Domaine de la Folie Clos Saint-Jacques, Rully Premier Cru, France ($52)
9. 2005 Joseph Drouhin Rully Blanc, Cote Chalonnaise, France ($41)
10. Vincent Dureuil-Janthial Cremant de Bourgogne Brut, Cote Chalonnaise, France ($20)

1. 1995 Domaine A. & P. de Villaine Bourgogne Cote Chalonnaise La Digoine, Burgundy, France

A glass of this red wine can win you over with its red fruit aromas and soft tannins. The palate is enriched with strawberry, raspberry, and cherry flavors. 

2. 2018 Domaine du Cellier aux Moines Givry 'Clos Pascal' Monopole, Cote Chalonnaise, France ($116)

This red Burgundy wine has an opulent nose with aromas of red fruit, forest floor, and baking spices. It has a complex palate with savory tannins.

3. 2019 Domaine A. & P. de Villaine Gresigny, Rully Premier Cru, France ($101)

Characterized by vibrant fruity flavors, this white wine is made with Chardonnay grapes sourced from the prestigious Gresigny Premier Cru vineyard. 

It packs the tasting notes of vanilla, coconut, almond, peaches, and apricot. The crisp acidity and green apple freshness make this wine all the more appealing.

4. 1992 Domaine Faiveley Mercurey, Cote Chalonnaise, France ($95)

Here’s a classic red wine with bold flavors of cedar, cassis, red fruit, oak, and earth. It has a smooth finish with subtle hints of green pepper. 

5. 1988 Domaine A & P de Villaine Bouzeron, Cote Chalonnaise, France ($90)

A glass of this white wine reveals a remarkable citrus minerality and tempting aromas of green apple, lemon zest, and pomelo. 

6. 2013 Louis Max Les Vasees, Mercurey Premier Cru, France ($60)

This Mercurey wine is made from premium quality Pinot Noir grapes sourced from the Les Vasees Premier Cru vineyard. 

It opens with a fresh fruit fragrance and gentle undertones of vanilla and oak on the palate. Wine lovers enjoy this red Burgundy’s velvety mouthfeel and spicy finish. 

7. 2018 Domaine Ramonet Bouzeron, Cote Chalonnaise, France ($56)

Light and citrusy, this white wine is made from the Aligote grape variety and it’s infused with the freshness of acacia flowers and green apples. It has a creamy palate with the dominant tasting notes of key lime and berry fruit. 

8. 2018 Domaine de la Folie Clos Saint-Jacques, Rully Premier Cru, France ($52)

Defined by its vibrant acidity, this Burgundy wine is made exclusively from the Chardonnay grape variety. The nose opens with bright lemon, pear, and baking spice aromas accompanied by a soft palate long-lasting finish. 

9. 2005 Joseph Drouhin Rully Blanc, Cote Chalonnaise, France ($41)

Here we have an easy-drinking and light-bodied Burgundy wine with a refreshing perfume of green apple, cinnamon, vanilla, and cream. 

10. Vincent Dureuil-Janthial Cremant de Bourgogne Brut, Cote Chalonnaise, France ($20)

This sparkling wine hails from the Crémant de Bourgogne appellation. It reveals an impressive bouquet of hazelnut, baked apple, vanilla, and berry fruit. 

The 5 Magnificent Appellations of Cote Chalonnaise

Although there are no Grand Cru vineyards in Cote Chalonnaise, the region is home to some exquisite Premier Cru vineyard sites.

Stretching from the north to the south, here are the five main wine regions in Cote Chalonnaise:

1. Bouzeron

In 1979, the well-known vintner Aubert de Villaine (owner of Bouzeron’s top winery, Domaine de Villaine) took the initiative to create the Bourgogne Aligoté de Bouzeron AOC (nowadays known as Bouzeron.) 

Bouzeron is the only appellation in the entire Cote Chalonnaise region that grows the Aligoté grape variety (a grape similar to Pinot Gris). 

Apart from Aligoté, this 61-hectare communal AOC also has few Pinot Noir and Chardonnay plantings. Unlike the other appellations in the Burgundy wine region (like Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune), Bouzeron doesn’t have any Premier Cru vineyards. 

2. Rully

Rully has 23 vineyards with the Premier Cru designation. This communal AOC has 223 hectares planted with the Chardonnay grape and 133 hectares of Pinot Noir plantations. The cooler parts of this Burgundy wine region are suitable for the Crémant sparkling wines production. 

3. Mercurey

Mercurey is home to 30 Premier Cru vineyards, with nearly 539 hectares dedicated to their dominant grape variety, Pinot Noir. The remaining 111 hectares of this communal AOC are planted with various white grape varieties. 

4. Givry

Givry is the smallest of the Cote Chalonnaise communes, with 17 Premier Cru vineyards. This village appellation produces age-worthy red Pinot Noir wines and a few white wines. 

5. Montagny

Montagny is the southernmost appellation of Cote Chalonnaise, covering 49 Premier Cru vineyards. 

With a vineyard size of nearly 300 hectares, this village appellation exclusively plants the Chardonnay grape variety. The Montagny region is also known for making the sparkling wine Crémant de Bourgogne.

Celebrate the Good Times with Cote Chalonnaise Wines!

Cote Chalonnaise is a great destination for wine lovers looking for stellar Burgundy wines. 

From complex Pinot Noir to creamy Chardonnays, the region crafts a versatile range of wine styles, perfect to sip on in the company of good friends and great music!

If you’re eager to discover investment-worthy wines, check out the Vinovest website. Explore how to easily buy, store, and sell authentic wines from France or other prestigious wine regions worldwide.