Puligny-Montrachet

Grape Variety :

Chardonnay.

Vineyard

Site: the middle part of the Côte de Beaune is famous of its great wines. Puligny-Montrachet, as one of the villages of the Côte des Blancs, is one of these celebrated appellations.

History & tradition: made famous by the illustrious Montrachet Grand Cru vineyard, Puligny has an ancient origin. Puligny may have belonged to a certain Pullius during the Roman empire. His estate was called "Pulliniacus" from which is derived the name Puligny (i.e. the property of Pullius, a fairly common name at the time).

Soil: limestone. Mixture of ochre earth and small pebbles.

Viticulture

Plantation density: 10,000 stocks/ha in order to extract all possible nuances from the terroir.

Pruning: Guyot.

Yield: 51hl/ha, low on purpose to limit the production of each vine stock.

Supply: grapes and must purchased from regular suppliers with long term contracts.

Vinification

Pressing: very slow so as to respect fruit. Juices from the very last pressings are not retained.

No yeasts or enzymes are used. The wine goes directly into barrels after "débourbage" (decanting of white wine to reduce sediment).

Ageing

Type: in barrels (25% in new oak).

Length: 12 months.

Origin of the wood: French oak forests.

Weathering of the wood: Joseph Drouhin insists on total control of the weathering for a period of 3 years, one of the contributing elements to the elegance of the wine.

Follow-up: barrel by barrel.

Throughout the ageing process, decisions are taken only after careful tasting evaluation. The data obtained is then completed through technical analysis. As with every other Joseph Drouhin wine, absolute priority is given to the true expression of terroir and character of the vintage.

Tasting note by Véronique Boss-Drouhin

"A wine of great finesse, distinguished and elegant. The colour is pure and bright, with light glints of white gold. The aromas evoke trees in bloom and white flesh fruit, like white peaches. With age, the aromas evolve towards almond and lightly grilled dried fruit. On the palate, there is a sensation of fresh silkiness. Long and persistent in the aftertaste, ending on an exceptional wealth of flavors, both floral and fruity".

Vintage

2021 required great technical skill as vinification had to be very precise. The whites show wonderful freshness. Carefully sculpted, the wines offer citrus notes of lemon and grapefruit. They reveal some fine balance.

Serving

Temperature: 13°C (55°C).

Cellaring: 8 to 20 years.