Mission Codename Megalodon
That Meursault vaporized. For a reason. Great bargains in great white Burgundy are rarer than Great White sharks in captivity, they just don’t last long!
Guess what though? Knowing that we had another lined up, and this time an even deeper discount. Pricier perhaps, but for a good reason. This one is the CHEAPEST you can find in its neighborhood of the world’s most sought-after Grand Crus, including the mythical Montrachet itself just a stone’s throw away. Trust Agent Noir’s palate as Burgundy is his specialty, this is the closest one can get to Montrachet for the money. For a bottle of DRC Montrachet, you’d pay a little more than a reliable used car. Sheesh.
Stunning platinum-gold with seemingly lit up sparks within, even the appearance is positively charged. The nose is all about hypothetical rocks in a blender, with some whole lemons and a sprig of fresh mint thrown in there. The palate shows a deft layer of nutty oak along with incredible tension of invisible electricity. An awakening jolt of acidity grows on the finish, to a lightning bolt of savory-saline, almost infinite complexity. This white is so big that it could have the propensity to crush gentler foods, so pair with caution, go game or poultry, creamy mushrooms, fine cheeses.
Same 2017 bliss we just emphasized, an even more electrifying rendition because of the deeper, rockier limestone soils. Man, just seeing “Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru” makes us feel some kind of way…and at this price, the feelings magnify exponentially! Just so cool.
Wine Advocate claims that; “Alain Chavy has quietly been producing some very fine white Burgundy in recent years from his winery located behind his house on the outskirts of Puligny village.” and Vinous defines the exceptional vintage as; “the ‘17s stand out for their fresh, pure stone, orchard and citrus fruits and their charm and easy digestibility… the better ‘17s entice with high-pitched notes of minerals, flowers and white pepper and noteworthy delineation of flavor.” Another Bingo!
94 Points – Wine & Spirits
“As bright and fragrant after three days open as it is when the cork is first pulled, this Puligny keeps yielding complex flavors and savory mineral depths. Chavy farms 3.5 acres in Folatières, his oldest vines dating to 1960. The wine’s structure is racy and refined, turning the luscious texture toward gracious restraint— all satin beeswax-lemon compression at the starting line of a long life.”
94 Points – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous
“Domaine Alain Chavy is one of several strands of the Chavy family based in the Côte de Beaune. It is a small grower with good holdings and quality-focused winemaking. The heart of the range is always the Premier Crus in Puligny, and the best are consistently either Les Pucelles or Les Folatières. This year the latter has its nose in front, thanks to superb nervosité. The 2017 Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières 1er Cru, Alain Chavy’s favourite amongst his Premier Cru Puligny, has a taut, stony bouquet that shows a little more vivacity than the other Premier Crus at the moment. The palate is fresh and vibrant with crisp acidity, fine nervosité with a precise finish that is clearly a step above its “siblings”. Excellent and I concur with its creator - this is one of the Domaine’s standouts. Drink 2022-2035.”
Tasting Profile
Tasting Profile
Look | Stunning platinum-gold with seemingly lit up sparks within. |
---|---|
Smell | Rocks in a blender, with some whole lemons and a sprig of fresh mint thrown in there. |
Taste | The palate shows a deft layer of nutty oak. along with incredible tension of invisible electricity. |
Finish | An awakening jolt of acidity grows to a lightning bolt of savory-saline, almost infinite complexity. |
Pairing | So big that it could crush gentler foods, go game or poultry, creamy mushrooms, fine cheeses. |
What the Winery Says
2017 Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières 1er Cru
- Winemaker
- Alain Chavy
- Varietal
- 100% Chardonnay
- Vintage
- 2017
- Appellation
- Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières 1er Cru, Côte de Beaune, Côte d’Or, Burgundy
- Vineyard
- Les Folatières 1er Cru
- Vineyard size
- 42 acres
- Soil
- Stony clay and limestone
- Average vine age
- 50+ years
- Alcohol
- 13%
- Total acidity
- 5.4 g/L
- Residual sugar
- 2.0 g/L
- pH
- 3.4
- Aging
- 16 months
- Barrels
- 25% new French oak