Blain-Gagnard

Some domaines speak softly but leave a lasting impression. Blain Gagnard is one of them. The estate was formed in 1980 when Jean-Marc Blain married Claudine Gagnard, daughter of the respected Gagnard-Delagrange family. From that union came a small domaine in Chassagne-Montrachet, today about eight hectares, still run by the family. Their son Marc-Antonin now works alongside them, keeping the next generation close to the vines.

The heart of the estate is Blain Gagnard Chassagne Montrachet. Chardonnay from these limestone soils can taste bright and lifted in one plot, richer and more generous in another. Youth brings citrus, stone fruit, a mineral line. With age, hazelnut and honey creep in, savoury depth stretching the palate. Always balanced, always that quiet Chassagne accent.

At the top of the ladder is Blain Gagnard Bâtard Montrachet Grand Cru, alongside tiny parcels in Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet and even Le Montrachet itself. Chardonnay at this level feels commanding. Concentrated fruit, spice and oak carefully judged with a spine of acidity that lets it age with confidence. Some bottles will last decades, growing more layered with every passing year.

Though Chardonnay defines the house, Blain-Gagnard also makes Pinot Noir from Chassagne and surrounding plots. Perfumed, supple, red-fruited wines that work beautifully at the table. They show the same precision as the whites, if in a lighter register.

What makes this domaine special is restraint. No gloss, no over-handling. Just vineyard and season, captured honestly. That is why critics and collectors alike look to Blain-Gagnard for some of the most dependable expressions of Chassagne.

At The Reserve Cellar, we choose and cellar Blain-Gagnard because wines like these deserve patience. Too many bottles leave Burgundy before their story has begun. Here, we wait. We release them when they’re ready — not just another French wine, but one that carries family, terroir, and time in every glass.