Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 'Les Caillerets', Domaine Jean-Claude Ramonet, 2022
Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 'Les Caillerets', Domaine Jean-Claude Ramonet, 2022
- White Still
- 75.0cl
- 14.0%
- Chardonnay
Ramonet is one of those names that makes serious Burgundy lovers go slightly glassy-eyed. Based in Chassagne-Montrachet, this is a domaine that has shaped how the village is understood, and 'Les Caillerets' — the name literally means 'little stones' — is among their most compelling premier cru sites: a chalk and limestone-rich parcel that reliably produces wines of tense, mineral precision rather than showy opulence.
The 2022 vintage, for all its warmth, did something interesting here: the heat gave flesh and generosity, but Chassagne's naturally chalky soils kept the acidity alive and the wine upright.
- ❖ ABV: 14.0%
Grapes
Chardonnay
Vintage report
The 2022 growing season in Burgundy began with a worryingly dry spring that had vignerons checking soil moisture levels weekly, followed by a summer that alternated between intense heat and welcome rainfall. The vines handled the stress remarkably well, producing smaller berries with concentrated flavours, though yields dropped significantly across both the Côte d'Or and Chablis. Harvest began earlier than usual, with many producers picking in late August under bright skies.
What emerged from the cellars shows a vintage of surprising finesse given the challenging conditions. The Pinot Noirs display vivid fruit and firm tannins without the jammy weight you might expect from a hot year, whilst the Chardonnays retained their mineral backbone alongside ripe stone fruit flavours. We're finding the village-level wines particularly compelling right now, drinking beautifully with just a year or two of bottle age, though the premier and grand crus will reward patience until the late 2020s.
Tasting Notes
AppearancePale gold with a bright, lively rim and excellent clarity.
NoseTightly coiled at first, with white peach, green apple, and a chalky, almost oyster-shell minerality that is distinctly Chassagne. Behind that, there is toasted hazelnut and a whisper of beeswax from the oak, which has been well-handled and sits in support rather than in charge.
PalateThe 2022 warmth gives the mid-palate real presence — there is weight and a creamy texture — but the acidity is firm and the finish pulls everything back into line. Lemon zest, crushed limestone, and a saline persistence mark this out as a wine of genuine site character rather than simply a very good Chardonnay.
FinishLong and mineral, with that stony, almost electric quality lingering well after the glass is empty.
Overall impressionA tightly wound, site-driven premier cru that needs time to speak clearly — but when it does, it will be worth every year of waiting.
Food Pairings
In Burgundy, a wine like this would most naturally appear alongside a poulet de Bresse roasted with butter and tarragon — the richness of the bird meeting the wine's weight, the herb cutting through it. Locals would also reach for this with quenelles de brochet, the silky pike dumplings bathed in cream sauce that are a Burgundian staple, or a gratin dauphinois where the wine's acidity does the work a squeeze of lemon might. A simple plateau of local Époisses or Comté, properly aged, would not be turned away either.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve at around 12-13°C — cold enough to preserve freshness but not so cold that the wine closes in on itself. We would not decant this, but we would open the bottle thirty minutes before pouring to let it breathe in the glass. A wide-bowled white Burgundy glass gives the nose room to open up and does full justice to what Les Caillerets has to say.
Les Caillerets sits on the upper slopes of Chassagne-Montrachet at around 280-320 metres, where the soils are predominantly Bathonian limestone with significant active chalk and very little topsoil — the 'little stones' of the name are no marketing flourish. This skeletal structure forces the vines to dig deep, restricts yields naturally, and produces wines with a mineral tension that marks them out from the richer, fuller expressions lower on the slope. The elevation also brings cooler nights, which helps preserve acidity even in warm vintages like 2022.
Chassagne-Montrachet is a village appellation in the Côte de Beaune, perhaps best known as the southern end of Burgundy's great white wine corridor that begins with Puligny-Montrachet to the north. Its premier cru vineyards are numerous and varied: some produce wines of Puligny-like tension and cut, others are broader and more textural. Les Caillerets sits firmly in the former camp. At premier cru level, all wines must be Chardonnay, and maximum yields are tightly controlled. The village also produces serious red Burgundy from Pinot Noir, which is often overlooked but rarely should be.
The 2022 growing season in Burgundy began with a worryingly dry spring that had vignerons checking soil moisture levels weekly, followed by a summer that alternated between intense heat and welcome rainfall. The vines handled the stress remarkably well, producing smaller berries with concentrated flavours, though yields dropped significantly across both the Côte d'Or and Chablis. Harvest began earlier than usual, with many producers picking in late August under bright skies.
What emerged from the cellars shows a vintage of surprising finesse given the challenging conditions. The Pinot Noirs display vivid fruit and firm tannins without the jammy weight you might expect from a hot year, whilst the Chardonnays retained their mineral backbone alongside ripe stone fruit flavours. We're finding the village-level wines particularly compelling right now, drinking beautifully with just a year or two of bottle age, though the premier and grand crus will reward patience until the late 2020s.
FAQs
What does Ramonet's Les Caillerets taste like?
White peach, crushed limestone, toasted hazelnut, and a persistent saline mineral quality that runs from nose to finish. The 2022 vintage adds a touch more flesh and generosity than cooler years, but the wine's defining character is tension and precision rather than richness.
When should I drink this wine?
We would hold off until 2027 at the earliest. This is a wine that rewards patience — the structure is there for the long haul, and it will be at its most complete somewhere between 2029 and 2034. Drink until around 2040.
Is 2022 a good vintage for white Burgundy?
Yes, though it requires some nuance. The vintage was warm, which gave whites more weight and ripeness than usual. In sites like Les Caillerets, where the chalk soils naturally maintain acidity, the heat added generosity without tipping into flabbiness. It is a very good year, if not a conventional one.
What food pairs well with this wine?
Roast Bresse chicken with butter and tarragon, pike dumplings in cream sauce, gratin dauphinois, or well-aged Comté. The wine's acidity and mineral depth mean it handles rich, creamy dishes with ease.
How should I serve it?
Around 12-13°C, in a wide-bowled white Burgundy glass. No need to decant, but open it thirty minutes before pouring and let it open gradually in the glass.
Is Ramonet worth the price?
Ramonet is one of Chassagne's benchmark producers, with a track record stretching back generations. Their premier crus, Les Caillerets included, consistently outperform their appellation ranking in terms of complexity and longevity. For a wine that will drink beautifully for fifteen-plus years, the price reflects what you are getting.
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