2012 Bachelet-Monnot Puligny-Montrachet

Domaine Bachelet-Monnot is a family affair and, for Burgundy, a young one. It was started in 2005 by brothers Marc and Alexandre Bachelet, who created the 53-acre domaine from land owned by their father and uncle. The vineyards are in the Maranges, Santenay and Puligny-Montrachet communes. The wines earn ratings in the low to mid-90s from reviewers, many of whom call the brothers among the best of the newest generation of Burgundian vignerons. In 2017 the Wine Advocate’s reviewer described his tasting at the domaine like this: “It was another superb set of wines from the domaine right from the commendable Bourgogne Rouge up to the spine-tingling Bâtard-Montrachet …. I strongly suspect (these wines) will represent some of the best values over the entire of the Côte d’Or this vintage, and if I were a millionaire…I would still buy them.”

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.