Domaine Paul Pernot Puligny-Montrachet “Les Pucelles” 1er Cru 2023

Alcohol: 13%

Grape(s): 100% Chardonnay

Localization: Puligny-Montrachet, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France

Tasting Notes: A slightly more elegant nose expresses aromas of honeysuckle, passion fruit, Asian-style tea, and the cool essence of poached pear wisps. The caressing and highly seductive medium-bodied flavors possess a wonderfully sophisticated mouthfeel while delivering superb length on the balanced finale with that element of 'presence'. Lovely juice with fine development potential. 

The Domain: Paul Pernot has run the domain since 1955, and now his three sons are assisting him. They own 19 hectares of fantastic vineyards in the Cote de Beaune but sell most of them to negociants, including Drouhin. The 20% or so they bottle themselves are pure, elegant, and delicious representations of their best parcels. While most wines see some new oak and only use barrels for three years, he bottles early to preserve freshness and avoid noticeable oakiness. The top wines, which always make a great comparison, are the Grand Crus Batard-Montrachet and Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet. Two Chassagne parcels and one Puligny parcel (.61 ha total) with vine ages of 10-30 years go into the Batard. The Bienvenues comes from two parcels (.37 ha total) with ten and 40-year-old vines, respectively. As great as both wines have been over the years, they only get more distinct and complex with the age of the vines. Pernot also owns great plots in some of the Puligny Premiers Crus, including Pucelles (.28 ha of 35-year-old vines), Folatieres (45-year-old vines), and Clos de la Garenne (in Champ-Canet adjacent to Folatieres). Their Puligny villages are also excellent and come from 4 different parcels with vines as old as 50 years. It is vinified in steel but aged oak. The Bourgogne Blanc, which comes from vines within Puligny on the Meursault border, is also vinified in steel and is an excellent value. Both wines achieve remarkable complexity, given their appellations and oak treatment.