What a minefield French wine labels are, truly the French make it hard to understand what you are drinking or where it comes from exactly.
Puligny-Montrachet is a commune in the Côte-d’Or department in eastern France. In the middle of the Côte de Beaune region. Now, that was easy wasn’t it?
It is a well-known appellation for white Burgundy, containing some of the most famous Chardonnay vineyards in the world. However this wine comes from some where near one of those vineyards but is classified as Macon. Yes I know, Puligny – Montrachet is on the label.
But its a Macon, I work in the trade and even I find it hard to nut-out at times.
Any way to the wine, this is the 6th bottle of this vintage I have drank over the past 8 years and believe me there has been some bottle variation along the way. This has been the best bottle out of the 6pk. And as stated a joy and a pleasure to drink.
In fact I think it, may just be one of the best Chardonnays I have drank for some time. This bottle was at its very best.
I have to point out I have drank this wine over 3 hours. It starts with a little lanolin on the front plate and finishes with a honeyed tone on the back plate.
As the wine warms, wonderful cleansing minerals grow, adding a freshness to the lemon / lime juice that is rather intense. Leaving the plate almost puckering with lemon, juice and minerals…(with a long, long finish)
If I was judging this wine in a blind tasting, I would have thought it to be a far, far better wine than its ranking amongst white Burgundy’s.
Truly this was a 5+ Star bottle of wine, and I would like to score it such.
Stunning
No food needed, just enjoy the wine for what it is. Stunning!
Michael Lillis
The Rot has set in.
A Guide to the Mâcon-Villages Region
Mâcon-Villages is an appellation exclusively for Chardonnay wine produced in the Maconnaise region of southern Burgundy.
Wines bearing this title are typically considered better than basic Macon wine.
The appellation consists of 26 villages, which collectively feature 1,885 hectares (4,658 acres) planted to vineyards.
This results in a diverse flavour profile that’s based on the producer and where the grapes are grown. It may pay to ask your retailer what one he would drink?
PS. If he replies: That he only drinks Sauvignon blanc, leave the store and Never return!
