Domaine Changarnier was founded by the Changarnier family in 1720, 69 years before the French Revolution. The family recently unearthed documents showing that one of their ancestors was born in Monthélie in 1629 and worked in the fields for the monks of the Abbey of Citeaux. Today, Domaine Changarnier is owned by brothers Claude and Antoine Changarnier and managed by the esteemed Fabrice Groussin since 2015.
Fabrice runs the 4.5-hectare domaine organically and biodynamically, producing 25,000 bottles from 10 different appellations. Domaine Changarnier’s white wines are fresh and elegant, utilising just 10 - 20% new oak and larger foudres to ensure a lovely texture that emphasises the site rather than the barrel maker. Their red wines are equally refined, with grainy tannins and a lovely balance.
Domaine Changarnier’s Monthélie Villages Blanc is sourced from their organically farmed, younger vines with an average age of 20 years. It is partly aged in Austrian oak barrels (15% new) and amphora, representing 20% of the total blend. The resulting wine displays vibrant citrus fruit and fresh acidity, making it both immediately accessible and suitable for ageing. The Monthélie ‘le Clos’ is a classic Côte de Beaune Chardonnay, sourced from a single plot which used to be the domaine’s garden. The final wine is concentrated, yet balanced by excellent acidity and is aged in 228L barrels to add complexity and weight.
The Monthélie ‘Pierrefitte’ hails from a ‘lieu-dit’ of Pinot Noir, situated at the top of the hill, 325 metres above sea level. The final wine is made using 15% whole-bunch fermentation and 20% new oak, creating lovely depth and power, with abundant ref fruit complemented by lively acidity on the finish. The Monthélie Premier Cru ‘Meix Bataille’ is planted on deeper limestone clay soils, producing wines with greater richness than the chalky marl of ‘Pierrefitte’. Fabrice doesn’t use any whole bunches for the ‘Meix Bataill’, which is aged in 20% new oak for 12 months.
