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Domaine Vincent Dancer (Chassagne-Montrachet)
Vincent Dancer is one of the most exciting young winemakers to emerge in Burgundy in recent years. From his tiny estate in Chassagne-Montrachet, Vincent is crafting pure, elegant wines that bear the mark of a great winemaker. Founded in 1996, the domaine is a combination of land inherited by Vincent from his mother’s family in Meursault and his father’s in Chassagne. The vineyards cultivated by the estate are carefully worked and tended to. Like many vignerons of his generation, Vincent is concerned with preserving the environment and has adopted biodynamic practices. The terroir is emphasized and each wine is labeled according to their individual plot names.
Although it only owns 5.15 hectares, the domaine is blessed with superb sites. Tete du Clos is a premier cru parcel which sits midway up the hill of Chassagne and produces a wine of great depth and precision. A little farther up the slope is the premier cru La Romanee, whose wines tend to be riper and more tropical. If Vincent chose to, he could label both wines as Morgeot. In Meursault, Vincent makes a great premier cru wine from the renowned Perrieres vineyard, but his village cuvee from the lieu-dit Les Grand Charrons is perhaps the best deal in the portfolio. This mineral filled, citrus flavored wine comes from vines planted in 1968. Topping off the list of whites is the grand cru Chevalier-Montrachet (0.90 ha., planted in 1952), but, sadly, Dancer only produces one barrel of this exquisite wine. Several top producers in the Meursault/Chassagne area release excellent red cuvees, but they are often overlooked by consumers. Vincent, who owns Pinot Noir vines in Beaune, Pommard and Chassagne, makes fragrant, richly textured reds that deserve more attention.
Like most serious winemakers, Vincent tries to interfere as little as possible with his wines. He does not perform battonage, nor does he fine or filter, and only wild yeasts are allowed in his cellar. This hands off approach in the cellar allows each cuvee to show its individual terroir. Even in the ripest vintages, the wines seem fresh and pure. Vincent Dancer’s wines reveal a delicate touch of a top winemaker.
Although it only owns 5.15 hectares, the domaine is blessed with superb sites. Tete du Clos is a premier cru parcel which sits midway up the hill of Chassagne and produces a wine of great depth and precision. A little farther up the slope is the premier cru La Romanee, whose wines tend to be riper and more tropical. If Vincent chose to, he could label both wines as Morgeot. In Meursault, Vincent makes a great premier cru wine from the renowned Perrieres vineyard, but his village cuvee from the lieu-dit Les Grand Charrons is perhaps the best deal in the portfolio. This mineral filled, citrus flavored wine comes from vines planted in 1968. Topping off the list of whites is the grand cru Chevalier-Montrachet (0.90 ha., planted in 1952), but, sadly, Dancer only produces one barrel of this exquisite wine. Several top producers in the Meursault/Chassagne area release excellent red cuvees, but they are often overlooked by consumers. Vincent, who owns Pinot Noir vines in Beaune, Pommard and Chassagne, makes fragrant, richly textured reds that deserve more attention.
Like most serious winemakers, Vincent tries to interfere as little as possible with his wines. He does not perform battonage, nor does he fine or filter, and only wild yeasts are allowed in his cellar. This hands off approach in the cellar allows each cuvee to show its individual terroir. Even in the ripest vintages, the wines seem fresh and pure. Vincent Dancer’s wines reveal a delicate touch of a top winemaker.