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The commune of Chambolle-Musigny lies just north of Vougeot and south of Morey-Saint-Denis on two steep slopes at either end of the commune which rise above the village of Chambolle in the valley between them. Its vineyards occupy 423 acres, 223 of which produce Chambolle's village wines, and an additional 150 acres divided among 24 premier crus. The remaining 40 acres are in the commune's two grands crus: Le Musigny, at the southern extremity, and Bonnes-Mares, at the northern extremity, a small part of which spills into Morey-Saint-Denis. Of Chambolle-Musigny's annual average production of 5,404 hectolitres (60,044 cases) of wine, all but seven are red; the 900-odd bottles of white are exclusively from the minuscule grand cru vineyard of Le Musigny Blanc.
Chambolle-Musigny is unique in the Côte de Nuits for the chalky composition of its soils (unlike the clay soils relevant elsewhere). The thin, calcareous layer clings to a hard rocky soil beneath, which stresses the vines and sharply restricts their yield; village and premier cru production is less than 15 hectolitres (5,625 gallons) per hectare, one-third of the legal maximum. But these soils are responsible for Chambolle-Musigny's exceptional delicacy and a character possessed by no other wine of the Côte de Nuits.
Les Baudes is a roughly triangular, contiguous vineyard of 8.45 acres bordering Bonnes-Mares on its eastern side and divided from it by the Route des Grands Crus. As does the adjacent grand cru, Les Baudes enjoys a superb southeast exposure, and is considered to be one of the finest and most perfectly structured of Chambolle-Musigny's premier crus. André Gagey is proprietor of an extraordinary .7-acre parcel lying just a few yards from the edge of Bonne-Mares which he purchased in 1992, yielding a maximum 125 cases per vintage. Beautifully perfumed and graceful, this feminine wine is supported by powerful yet refined tannins. The sweet, rich fruit is supple and well-bred, ending in a persistent finish.
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American
