PULIGNY-MONTRACHET

Localization : Côte de Beaune
Total vineyard area : 235 ha dont 100 ha en premier cru et 21 ha en grand cru
Varieties and types of wine :
pinot noir for the red wines (only 6.40 ha. in production)
chardonnay for the white wines, almost exclusively
Classification : Villages, Premier Cru, Grand Cru

Premier Cru " Climats " :

Grand Cru " Climats " :

Montrachet : Without doubt it is the most excellent white wine in Europe whose fame has long since spread worldwide. In the 18th century, Thomas Jefferson, then President of the United Sates placed it on the list of the greatest wines and bought 12 vine plants which he tried to replant… in Virginia ! But the origins of Montrachet go back much further : in the 13th century, the Cistercian monks were given a few vines situated on the " Mont chauve " or " Mont Rachaz " between Puligny-Montrachet (to the north) and Chassagne-Montrachet (to the south). Over the centuries, Montrachet, often called the " Vigne Blanche du Seigneur " forged its identity thanks to the loving care of its owners, amongst whom the Comte de Clermont-Montoison who had acquired these vineyards at the very same time as the Prince de Conti was making an exceptional Grand Cru of Romanée Conti.

In spite of the French Revolution, Montrachet kept its admirable, distinguished, aristocratic character due, amongst others, to Bouchard Père & Fils who helped to save this unique vineyard by buying 1.92 hectares in 1838. Then, in 1839, Bernard Bouchard had a stone gate built.

With an ideal South-South East exposure, the land belonging to Bouchard Père & Fils is situated just beneath Chevalier Montrachet - another very famous Grand Cru - in the very heart of the "Appellation".

Always harvested by hand, carefully sorted, then aged in oak casks, Bouchard Père & Fils produces less than 5 000 bottles per year !

King of kings, this wine offers a concentration of all the qualities of the Great White Burgundies. From extremely poor ground on a chalk mound (hence the name of "mont chauve") this wine is the very proof that the greatest wines often come from regions where growing conditions are the most extreme.

With its splendid, bright gold colour this Grand Cru develops complex aromas of hazelnut mixed with fine notes of honey. A wine for laying down, Montrachet has elegance, charm and character.

Chevalier Montrachet : Legend has it that the name of this white "Cru" comes from the sharing out of the land by the Seigneur de Montrachet between his two sons : one had become a knight in fighting the enemy during the crusades, and the other, illegitimate, who is supposed to have given his name to Bâtard-Montrachet, situated just below Montrachet.

Chevalier-Montrachet forms a horizontal strip at the top of Montrachet and, in fact, its soil was often used to make up that of Montrachet. Since the 18th century, the growers have toiled over this harsh land with its stones of chalk and marl at the top, and ordinary chalk at the bottom which produces wines of unparalleled quality.

During the 19TH century the Bouchard family was quick to acquire several pieces of land in Chevalier-Montrachet and is now the biggest grower with 2.56 hectares representing 34% of the total area.

Thus, Bouchard Père & Fils is one of the 15 rare, privileged owners of part of this magnificent vineyard.

With a magnificent bright gold colour, Chevalier-Montrachet is the essence of finesse, refinement and delicacy. The fruity nose gives way to a complex mixture of richness and body with remarkable persistence.

Bâtard Montrachet : Bouchard Père & Fils owns some 0,08 hectares here on land giving wines with a rich bouquet of flowers and fruit and a hint of toast. Part of the estate is on the territory of Puligny and the remainder on that of Chassagne. Complex and full on the palate, Bâtard Montrachet is enchantingly rich and has excellent potential for ageing.

Bienvenues Bâtard Montrachet

In 1879, both Puligny and Chassagne were allowed to add to their own name that of the famous Grand Cru Montrachet. Decidedly the choice place for producing great white wines, Puligny is almost entirely planted with Chardonnay.

At an average height of 300 metres, the vineyards face east and benefit from maximum sunlight. The ground is globally chalky-clay, rich in pebbles on a sub-soil with some marl (in the "Climats" of Chalumeaux or Champs Gains Premiers Crus among others) or chalk (les Folatières for example). The Village "Appellations" in Puligny are usually lively and elegant, becoming mellow with great aromatic persistence. At the beginning of the 19th century, Docteur Morelot described the Puligny wines as being "on a par with the best quality Meursault wines " (Statistiques de la vigne dans le département de la Côte d'Or - 1831).

Photographic credit : Dominique Pernin