Bâtard-Montrachet is one of the great white grand cru vineyards of Burgundy. It lies just below Le Montrachet and gives full, powerful Chardonnay with a depth and ageing potential that very few white wines anywhere can match. Here you will find Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru from producers such as Domaine Leflaive, Etienne Sauzet, Thomas Morey and Alvina Pernot.
Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru: the vineyard below Le Montrachet
Bâtard-Montrachet was recognised as a grand cru in 1937, the same year as Montrachet Grand Cru. The vineyard covers roughly twelve hectares and is split between two villages: the northern part belongs to Puligny-Montrachet and the southern part to Chassagne-Montrachet. Ownership is highly fragmented, so many domaines farm only a few rows here and make very little wine from it each year.
The name comes with an old story. According to legend, the Lord of Puligny divided his land among his children: his eldest son received Le Montrachet, his daughters received Les Pucelles, and his illegitimate son, the bastard, was given the vineyard further down the hill. True or not, the tale captures where the vineyard sits: on the lower, gentler part of the Montrachet slope.
Terroir and style: power, richness and long ageing
The bedrock is Jurassic limestone, but the topsoil is deeper and heavier than higher up in Le Montrachet and Chevalier-Montrachet. Brown, pebbly limestone soil with a high clay content holds more water, which gives wines with more body. Only Chardonnay is permitted, and here it is both rich and firmly structured.
A young Bâtard-Montrachet typically shows ripe yellow fruit, citrus, hazelnut and a touch of toasted oak, carried by lively acidity and a long, mineral finish. With age come notes of honey, butter, almond and truffle. Where Chevalier-Montrachet is taut and cool, Bâtard is the broad, generous one among the great Puligny vineyards.
The Bâtard family: Bienvenues and Criots
Two smaller grand cru vineyards carry the name further. Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet lies to the north-east of Bâtard, entirely within Puligny, and gives slightly lighter, more floral wines. Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet lies to the south of Bâtard, entirely within Chassagne, and is the smallest of the three. Both are appellations in their own right, and you will find them alongside the other great vineyards on the Montrachet Grand Cru page.
Bâtard-Montrachet producers
Because the vineyard is divided among so many owners, there are plenty of interpretations to explore. Domaine Leflaive makes a classic, precise Bâtard with vintages going back to 2002, and Etienne Sauzet is represented by a long run of vintages from 2013 onwards. Among the family domaines are Thomas Morey, Bachelet-Ramonet, Domaine Ramonet, Alvina Pernot, Jean Chartron, Pierre Morey and Jean-Marc Boillot.
You will also find wines from Joseph Drouhin, Albert Bichot, Domaine de la Vougeraie and Olivier Leflaive, as well as Benjamin Leroux. Some come in magnum, a format that matures more slowly and suits anyone planning to cellar the wine.
Food pairing with Bâtard-Montrachet
A white wine this full can stand up to rich dishes. Try it with lobster, turbot in beurre blanc, scallops, veal, or chicken with morels and cream. A mature Bâtard is also lovely with truffle and with aged cheeses such as Comté. Serve it at twelve to fourteen degrees, and decant it when young.
Bâtard-Montrachet FAQ
What is the difference between Montrachet and Bâtard-Montrachet?
Le Montrachet sits just above on the slope with thinner soil and gives the most concentrated, mineral wines. Bâtard-Montrachet has deeper, clay-rich soil and is usually broader, fuller and a little more open in its youth.
How long can you age Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru?
From a good vintage and a good producer, the wine develops for ten to twenty years or more. Many drinkers wait five to eight years before opening a bottle, once the fruit and oak have come together.
Is Bâtard-Montrachet always a white wine?
Yes. The appellation allows only Chardonnay, so every Bâtard-Montrachet is white Burgundy.
Where is Bâtard-Montrachet?
In the Côte de Beaune in Burgundy, on the boundary between Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet, directly below Le Montrachet.