La Cave Éclairée takes you today to Burgundy, heading to Puligny-Montrachet ! A famous appellation of the Côte de Beaune, the grape variety Chardonnay here reveals all its finesse and elegance, supported by exceptional terroirs.
Why is Puligny-Montrachet so renowned ? Why are its wines so appreciated ? What should you pair them with for an unforgettable experience? Find all the answers to these questions in our article.
Happy reading !
Summary
History and origins of the Puligny-Montrachet AOC
The development of viticulture in Burgundy really began in the 1st century BC with the Roman conquest of Gaul. The Romans quickly identified the viticultural potential of the region thanks to its limestone soils and suitable climate.
The Roman soldiers therefore brought with them viticultural techniques and grape varieties from Italy, while adapting their know-how to local specificities. The establishment of vineyards was gradual and initially aimed to meet local needs.
Then, after the fall of the Roman Empire, the Cistercian and Benedictine monks gradually took over the Burgundian vineyards. During the Middle Ages, the abbeys had a great influence on the development of the vine and their monks contributed to the identification of the best terroirs.
In 1094, the Abbey of Cluny also mentions the village of Puligny in its archives and from 1184, it is confirmed that the Cistercian monks of Maizières already owned vineyards there. The wine of Montrachet is mentioned for the first time in 1252 under the name "Mont Rachaz".
Between the 15th and 17th centuries, the Puligny-Montrachet region continued to gain prestige. The Montrachet estate was already recognized for the exceptional quality of its white wines, and demand was growing. In the 16th century, the Dukes of Burgundy and other nobles also owned many vineyards in the region, contributing to the fame of Puligny and Montrachet.
In 1879, the communes of Puligny and Chassagne officially added "Montrachet" to their names, thus underlining the growing importance of this hill and its vineyards on the wine scene.
However, this period was also marked by the phylloxera crisis. This insect, similar to an aphid and attacking the roots of the vine, destroyed a large part of the European vineyard. Although the vines of Puligny-Montrachet did not escape its ravages, the vineyard was gradually rebuilt over the following decades thanks to the strength and passion of local winegrowers.
Finally, Puligny-Montrachet obtained its official recognition as an Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) in 1937, thus clearly delimiting the different plots of the vineyard in the commune.
Today, the Puligny-Montrachet AOC is an absolute international reference and produces some of the greatest white wines in the world. The vineyard here covers 205 hectares exclusively dedicated to Chardonnay.
The appellation also includes 17 Premier Cru climats, these covering 96 hectares, or 47% of the vineyard. The best known among them are probably Les Pucelles, Les Perrières, Les Folatières and Les Demoiselles.
Finally, the highlight, the commune of Puligny-Montrachet also has 5 illustrious Grands Crus : Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet and Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet, together covering just over 31 hectares.
Map of the famous Côte de Beaune with Puligny-Montrachet in the southeast
Climate and soils of Puligny-Montrachet
The Puligny-Montrachet vineyard stretches to the south of the Côte de Beaune, between 230m and 320m in altitude, and is oriented southeast, giving it an ideal exposure. Here, the soils are limestone and clay-limestone.
Puligny-Montrachet is also characterized by a continental climate with moderate influences. Rainfall is frequent throughout the year, with a peak in autumn and a dip in summer. Winters are cold, sometimes snowy, while summers can be hot and sometimes accompanied by violent storms.
This type of climate, combined with the soil typology and their topography, makes Puligny-Montrachet one of the most prestigious appellations in the world. Thanks to all these factors, the maturation of Chardonnay here is slow and gives rise to wines of great elegance, rich in minerality.
Map of the vineyard of Puligny-Montrachet
The wines of Puligny-Montrachet
As you will have understood, the wines of the Puligny-Montrachet appellation are exclusively white wines. There are also a few rare Pinot Noir vines in the commune but the wines from these cannot bear the Puligny-Montrachet appellation and are generally sold under the Côte de Beaune-Villages appellation. We will therefore focus here only on white wines !
Made from the Chardonnay grape variety, these wines first attract the eye with their golden hue with slightly green reflections.
Their aromatic palette is rich and very noble, distinguished, among other things, by notes of citrus, green apple, peach, or even white flowers. A striking minerality is also present on tasting. Most of the wines here are aged in oak barrels. This aging method naturally contributes to the complexity of the wines by giving them notes of vanilla, hazelnut, or even almond.
Acidity is generally well present and structuring in Puligny-Montrachet wines, while alcohol is at a medium level.
As a general rule, a village AOC wine Puligny-Montrachet can be kept between 5 and 10 years, depending on the vintage and its intrinsic quality. However, the Premiers Crus and Grands Crus of the commune have superb aging potential, starting at 10 years and going up to several decades.
Chardonnay: the exclusive grape variety of Puligny-Montrachet AOC wines
What to eat with a white wine from Puligny-Montrachet ?
The mineral white wines of Puligny-Montrachet, whether from the village appellation, the Premier Crus, or the Grands Crus, are very versatile wines for food pairings. Here are some suggestions to whet your appetite !
With a Puligny "village"
Opt here for grilled fish (cod, sea bream, bass) with a lovely lemon butter sauce… a delight !
Seafood is also an excellent match, as well as fresh goat cheeses.
With a Puligny Premier Cru
With a bit more body, try scallops in cream sauce or a fattier fish, such as salmon.
A Bresse chicken or a mushroom risotto will also be great successes.
Finally, if you are a cheese fan, try a pairing with a young Comté or a Beaufort !
Scallops in cream sauce and Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru: a delight!
With a Grand Cru from Puligny-Montrachet
Being rare wines of immense aromatic richness, the Grands Crus of the commune of Puligny-Montrachet should be paired with refined dishes to enhance the moment.
Thus, a Thermidor lobster, with its soft and tender flesh, will resonate superbly with the dried fruit notes of your Grand Cru.
A pan-seared foie gras, with a white wine reduction, will also be a spectacular pairing.
Finally, a white truffle risotto or very mature cheeses such as aged Parmesan or Swiss Gruyère will also be a hit.
Is your mouth watering ? Ours too ! But be careful, make sure that the serving temperature of these wines is appropriate, that is, between 11-13°C to respect their balance.
The best wines of the Puligny-Montrachet AOC
Among the most emblematic properties of the Puligny-Montrachet AOC, the estate Alain Chavy stands out for the finesse and elegance of its wines.
The estate’s cuvées perfectly reflect the typicity of the clay-limestone terroirs of the appellation and are of admirable aromatic complexity.
Tasting a Puligny-Montrachet signed Alain Chavy is to savor a wine of rare elegance, capable of enhancing refined dishes, and leaving an unforgettable memory on tasting. We highly recommend his entire range !
You now know more about the Puligny-Montrachet AOC, one of the most prestigious vineyards in Burgundy. If you are looking for the best crus from this region, do not hesitate to explore our selection on La Cave Éclairée ! You will no doubt find the ideal bottle to enhance your next tastings. Cheers, and see you soon for new gourmet pleasures!
