Domaine Blain-Gagnard, established in 1980, came to life when Jean-Marc Blain married Claudine Gagnard, the youngest daughter of Jacques and Marie-Josèphe Gagnard, founders of Domaine Gagnard-Delagrange. Together, they manage this distinguished domaine alongside their son, Marc-Antonin, and now oversee 20.5 acres of vineyards in Chassagne-Montrachet. Their holdings include prestigious vineyards in three grands crus: Le Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet, and Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet.
Chassagne-Montrachet, situated at the southern end of the Côte de Beaune, is renowned for its exceptional white wines, although it also boasts a significant proportion of red plantings. In addition to the grand crus, Blain-Gagnard’s vineyards encompass two red premier crus and four white premier crus, alongside smaller plots in Volnay and Pommard. The estate follows the méthode de lutte raisonée, or “reasoned struggle,” in its vineyard management.
Recognised as one of the finest white Burgundy estates, Domaine Blain-Gagnard emphasises minimal intervention in the winemaking process. Jean-Marc and Claudine oversee the estate, which is situated on some of the village’s best hillsides. They carefully manage the use of new oak barrels, distributing them judiciously across various cuvées to ensure the wine retains its purity and avoids an overwhelming oak influence. The winemaking practice also includes a cautious approach to bâtonnage, or stirring of the lees, resulting in wines that showcase vibrant fruit purity, balanced acidity, and long, clean flavours.
In recent years, the legacy continues as Marc-Antonin Blain returned to Burgundy in 2009 after honing his winemaking skills around the world, including stints at Giaconda and Cullen, both well-regarded Australian wineries. Now integral to the family domaine, he also produces exquisite wines under his own domain from vineyards that have been in the Blain family since 1683.