1995 Louis Carillon Puligny Montrachet

Domaine Louis Carillon is a 27-acre estate in Puligny-Montrachet. Among those who collect white Burgundy, the domaine is something of an insider’s secret. The family has been making wine and growing grapes in the area for nearly 400 years and the current domaine is named for the father of the two brothers, Jacques and Francois Carillon, who now run it. Carillon grows primarily Chardonnay and a small amount of Aligote. The estate includes one Grand Cru vineyard in Chevalier Montrachet, and nine Premier Crus in Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet and Saint-Aubin. Clive Coates has written that the domain’s wines “are fine but understated…when I sampled them blind in bottles they always came out near the top…and (I) buy lots for myself.”

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.