2002 Paul Pernot Bâtard-Montrachet

Domaine Paul Pernot et Fils is a 50-acre estate based in Puligny Montrachet. It was started in 1959 by Paul Pernot, who founded his enterprise with 25 acres that had been owned by the Pernot family for nearly 200 years. Today Paul Pernot has turned over much of the work to his three sons. The domain has two Puligny Montrachet Grand Crus, Batard-Montrachet and Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet, as well as several Premier Crus. The domaine also produces a limited amount of red wine from very old vines. Clive Coates has noted that at Domaine Paul Pernot et Fils “quality is very high…I have consistent enthusiastic notes of Pernot wines.”

Batard-Montrachet is one of the four great Grand Cru Chardonnay vineyards in the appellation of Puligny-Montrachet, in Burgundy. Like its neighbor Le Montrachet, Batard-Montrachet also lies partly in the Chassagne-Montrachet appellation just to the south of Puligny-Montrachet. At 30 acres, Batard-Montrachet is the largest of four Grand Crus and it is divided into nearly 30 individually owned parcels. Located just to the east of Le Montrachet, the soil of Batard-Montrachet is deeper and less thin. The largest landholders are Leflaive, with 4.5 acres; Ramonet, 1.2 acres; Bachelet-Ramonet, 1.4 acres; and Paul Pernot, 1.5 acres.

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.