Montagny
is the southernmost appellation of the Cotes Chalonnaise region of
southern Burgundy. It produces Chardonnay exclusively from vineyards
set in natural amphitheatres. The Roy family have been wine
growers in Montagny since 1809. Today, Alain Roy owns eleven
hectares of some of the oldest vines in the appellation, with more than
half of his holdings being over 35 years old. All the vines
are
on slopes.
Roy harvests by
hand and
machine. The grapes are rapidly pressed and then fermented in
temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks for 15-20 days. Bottling
takes place after the termination of the malolactic fermentation in
April or May, to capture the maximum of the fresh, generous and lively
fruit. Roy’s Montagny 1er Cru is an expressive, vivid, and elegant wine
with flavors of green apple, nectarine, melon, honey and minerals. It
represents outstanding value in white Burgundy. The British
wine
writer Anthony Hanson’s praise for the Roy domaine is very apt: “One of
Montagny’s most dependable properties, making flowery, ripe,
well-balanced wines.”