2011 Chateau de Puligny Montrachet Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières

Château de Puligny-Montrachet is part of the wine producing and negociant enterprise of the de Montille family. The family has had its roots in Burgundy winemaking since the 18th century. But it was Hubert de Montille, who trained as a lawyer, who nevertheless took over the family business in the 1950s, ending the family’s centuries-long tradition of selling grapes to negociants. Hubert died several years ago and today Hubert’s children Étienne and Alix run the estate. Etienne worked during the 1990s at California wine producers. The de Montilles bought the 50-care Château de Puligny-Montrachet in 2012, primarily to produce Chardonnay. The family’s other labels include Deux Montille Soeur-Frére and Domaine de Montille.

Les Folatieres is a 43-acre Premier Cru vineyard in the appellation of Puligny-Montrachet, in Burgundy’s Cote de Beaune. It is nearly in the center of the Premier Crus and is the largest Premier Cru in Puligny-Montrachet. Burgundy writer Clive Coates has written that “Les Folatieres is a fullish, meaty, mineral wine with plenty of weight of fruit and good grip – a typical Puligny premier cru in fact.”

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.