2012 Benoit Ente Puligny Montrachet Terre de Blagny

Domaine Benoit Ente was established in 1998, when the then 30-year old Benoit Ente started his own domaine with seven acres of vineyards inherited from his grandfather. For almost a decade before that he had worked some family property with an aunt, growing grapes and selling them to negociants. But Ente wanted to make his own wine. His debut vintage was the 1999 and since then he has added impressive parcels to his estate. He has Puligny-Montrachet premier cru parcels in Champ Gain, Les Folatières and Les Referts, as well as parcels in Chassagne-Montrachet. Benoit is the younger brother of Arnaud Ente, a well-regarded grower and winemaker in Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet. Clive Coates has called Benoit Ente “an address to watch.”

Puligny-Montrachet, according to Burgundy writer Clive Coates, “is the greatest white wine commune on earth.” Though other reviewers are not always as extravagant in their praise, there is no question that the appellation’s wines are generally the most lauded Chardonnays in the world. Puligny-Montrachet the commune is tiny, with fewer than 500 residents. Yet the appellation named for it has 1,250 acres of vineyards, including 76 acres of Grands Crus and 247 acres of Premiers Crus. Its four famous Grands Crus are Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet and Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet. There are 26 Premiers Crus completely or partly in the appellation. The Premiers and Grands Crus vineyards are on slopes that eventually rise to 1,300 feet and become total rock. In his admiration for this appellation, Coates added “The top Montrachets, Chevaliers and Bâtards are wines to drink on bended knees, with heartfelt and humble thanks.”

This white variety originated in Burgundy, but is now grown around the world. Its flexibility to thrive in many regions translates to wide flavor profile in the market. Chardonnay is commonly used in making Champagne and sparkling wines.