2017 Domaine Michel Niellon Chassagne-Montrachet Clos Saint-Jean 1er Cru
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Tasting notes
The 2017 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jean continues to drink well from my cellar, exhibiting aromas of pear, confit citrus, toasted nuts, praline and smoke, followed by a medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy palate that's underpinned by racy acids. Somewhere in between youth and maturity, I'd be inclined to wait a few years before broaching more bottles, though readers with colder cellars may still catch the wine in its impressive infancy.
Critic scores
The Wine Advocate
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Bright, light yellow. More crushed rock and menthol than primary fruit on the nose today. A step up from the Champgains in tension on the palate, showing good citrus lift and mineral intensity. Here the acidity is fresh but less spiky, giving the wine a shapely quality. Finishes with a note of lemon peel. Very good potential here. (these vines on shallow, rocky soil were harvested with potential alcohol of just 12.3% owing to a blockage of maturity)
The 2017 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jean is one of the highlights of the Niellon portfolio this year, unwinding in the glass with notes of pear, lemon, toast, nutmeg and subtle smoke. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, satiny and concentrated, with terrific depth, racy acids and a long, stony finish. 1992 was the first vintage for these vines, Niellon's holdings here having previously been planted entirely to Pinot Noir, and they are clearly hitting their stride today: it's the finest white Clos Saint-Jean I've tasted from this domaine.
About the producer
From the heart of Chassagne-Montrachet, Domaine Michel Niellon embodies generations of craftsmanship and Burgundian finesse, producing elegant, terroir-driven wines from just 8 hectares.