Joseph Drouhin Puligny-Montrachet 2022

Maison Joseph Drouhin is a highly esteemed and historic winery located in Burgundy, France, with a distinguished legacy dating back to its founding in 1880. Situated in the heart of Beaune, the winery benefits from its prime location within one of the world's most celebrated wine regions. Managed by the fourth generation of the Drouhin family, the estate is renowned for its unwavering commitment to quality and the preservation of traditional winemaking practices. Their vineyards are strategically located across Burgundy's most prestigious appellations, including Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, Chablis, and Côte Chalonnaise, ensuring access to exceptional terroir.

Primarily celebrated for its exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Maison Joseph Drouhin produces a range of red, white, and rosé wines, including highly acclaimed selections such as Clos des Mouches, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze, and Beaune Clos des Ursules. Demonstrating a deep respect for the environment, the estate has embraced organic viticulture since the late 1980s and biodynamic practices since the 1990s across its extensive 100-hectare estate. Their philosophy emphasizes providing "natural answers to natural problems," resulting in deliberately low production yields that allow their grapes to fully express the unique characteristics of each terroir.

This celebrated appellation, part of the prestigious Côte des Blancs, is globally recognised for producing exceptional wines, notably made famous by the illustrious Montrachet Grand Cru vineyard. With origins tracing back to Roman times, the name Puligny itself is believed to derive from a Roman estate. This wine is crafted using grapes and musts sourced from carefully selected supply partners, adhering to stringent specifications. The grapes are meticulously harvested by hand and sorted to ensure only the finest quality.

The vinification process involves a slow pressing of the grapes, with the highest quality free-run juice separated. Following a brief settling period, the juice is transferred to oak barrels for both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation, as well as for ageing. Approximately 20% of these barrels are new, and the ageing process spans 14 to 16 months.

The resulting wine is characterised by its great finesse, elegance, and a pure, bright colour with subtle white-gold highlights. Its aromatic profile initially presents notes of blooming trees and white flesh fruits like white peach, evolving with age to reveal nuances of almond and lightly grilled dried fruit. On the palate, it offers a sensation of fresh silkiness, culminating in a long, persistent finish with an exceptional wealth of floral and fruity flavours.