At a glance

Producer

Domaine Philippe Colin

Region

Chassagne-Montrachet, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France

Grape variety

Chardonnay

Wine type

White

Body

Full-bodied and Smooth

Sweetness

Dry

Typical price

€90-€120 / $100-$135 USD

Tasting profile

Ripe orchard fruits (pear, apple), lemon zest, white flowers, nuanced toasted hazelnut, delicate oak, and signature Chassagne minerality.

Evolution: Flavors integrating towards honeyed notes, nutty complexity, subtle dried fruit, and pronounced stony character; oak further melds into the palate.

At peak: Pure, harmonious Chardonnay with layered minerality and length, balancing fruit, acidity, and savory notes.

Structure

Acidity

Medium-plus to high, providing freshness and longevity

Tannins

None (white wine; phenolic grip can be present from oak aging)

Alcohol

13.0%-13.5% ABV (typical for this producer and vintage)

Aging potential

7-12 years from vintage in optimal cellaring

Drinking window

Peak drinking

2024 to 2041

Optimal window

2021 to 2044

Current status

Ready to drink

Current condition

Showing integrated oak, vibrant acidity, enhanced expression of minerality and depth

The 2016 Philippe Colin Chassagne-Montrachet Les Chenes displays its best balance of fruit purity, complexity, and integrated oak from ~2022–2026. Beyond 2027, expect tertiary development and possible decline in freshness.

Food pairing

Ideal with grilled lobster, Dover sole meunière, roasted chicken with morel cream, aged Comté, or creamy risottos with spring vegetables.

Serving

Decant

Not required

Sustainability

Sustainability score: 5/10

Use of sustainable vineyard methods (manual harvest, minimal synthetic chemicals where possible), traditional winemaking, no widespread use of renewable energy or green packaging publicly documented.

Domaine Philippe Colin practices lutte raisonnée, a sustainable philosophy common in Burgundy that reduces chemical inputs and favors manual work, but the estate was not certified organic or biodynamic in 2016. Environmental practices exceed minimum requirements but do not reach the rigorous standards or transparency of certified green producers. Packaging is standard for premium Burgundy (heavy glass), and export increases carbon footprint. Overall, some sustainable steps are taken, but not leading-edge or fully accredited.