This is one of the finest Burgundy estates, where the wine-making involves minimal interventions. It is run by Jean-Marc Blain and his wife Claudine, the daughter of Jacques Gagnard-Delagrange. The family owns some of the villages greatest hillsides. New oak barrels are never used to excess, being subtly spread amongst the different cuvées, so that spicy oakiness is never perceptible here. Blain is also prudent with stirring-up of the lees (known as bâtonnage) which, if used to excess, may result in heavy wines which taste mealy. Here, on the contrary, the finished wines have great purity of fruit, with balanced acidity and long, clean flavours which clearly evoke the wines precise origins.

Domaine Blain-Gagnard is a small 8.50-hectare domain established in 1980 when Jean-Marc Blain (who came from the Loire Valley) married Claudine Gagnard, daughter of Jacques and Marie-Josèphe Gagnard of Domaine Gagnard-Delagrange and from which they inherited some of their vineyards. While they make some red Chassagne-Montrachet, Volnay, and Pommard, it's their superb lineup of Chassagne premier cru and grand cru whites that the reputation of this Domaine is based.

Volnay is renowned for producing delicate, elegant, and graceful wines. The appellation spans 242ha of vineyards, of which 115ha is divided among 26 Premier Crus. Some of the most notable of these are Bousse d'Or, Champans, Clos des Ducs, Les Caillerets, and Santenots.

Volnay is often described as silky and elegant but the wines can vary in style depending on the soil and elevation of the vineyard. They have a high percentage of limestone and show the classic Volnay character of perfume and finesse. Les Pitures is robust and opulent with violet, plum, earth, and a subtle spiciness. Aged in neutral oak barrels.