Dressed in the singular grace of the great white wines of the Côte de Beaune, the Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru "Sous le Puits" 2020, Domaine Louis Latour evokes the heritage of a high-altitude terroir where light, stone and wind compose a score of rare precision. Here, Chardonnay expresses itself with lace-like precision, marrying the sensuality of yellow fruit with the chalky thrill. For the connoisseur seeking table wines that can embrace subtle cuisine, and for the collector who values tension within plenitude, this cuvée achieves a balance that never imposes but leaves a lasting impression. Maison Louis Latour deploys proven know-how, enhancing barrel ageing without a hint of weight. The palate, satin-smooth, unfolds a carefully contained energy, carried by elegant minerality and a mouthwatering length. A top-tier 1er Cru, approachable today after aeration, while promising rewarding cellar evolution.

Blend and winemaking

This Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru is made from Chardonnay from the climat "Sous le Puits", located above Blagny. The vines, around 35 years old, root in clay-limestone hillside soils, ensuring mineral expression and balance. Hand-harvesting preserves the integrity of the berries, and vinification follows Burgundian tradition with fermentation in oak barrels and full malolactic fermentation. The 8 to 10 months élevage is carried out in French oak barrels made by the house cooperage, with about 50% new oak and a measured toast, intended to add texture and complexity without masking the purity of the fruit. The style, both rich and linear, highlights a caressing material perfectly tensioned by a fine acid thread.

Tasting notes

• Colour: Clear pale yellow with bright highlights that signal freshness and precision, its sheen recalling damp stone in the morning sun.
• Nose: Nuanced bouquet of almond paste, peach and ripe apple, underscored by white blossom. Delicate oak notes of vanilla, toasted bread and nutmeg merge into a refined framework, letting the terroir's mineral signature come through.
• Palate: Generous, satin attack recalling roasted almond and peach, lifted by a zest of lemon and a veil of light honey. Minerality takes hold at the heart of the tasting, stretching a long, elegant and delicately saline finish, with a hint of gentle spice.

Serving temperature and advice

Serve fresh but not ice-cold, in large tulip glasses that favour aromatic breadth and the subtlety of oak. A short decant can be considered to reveal the fruity core and floral dimension while preserving tension. Store bottles in a cool, dark, calm cellar to allow texture and complexity to develop. This 1er Cru has a cellaring potential of 5 to 7 years and beyond depending on the desired evolution, gaining patina and depth over time.

Food pairings

• Starters: delicate poultry terrine, white asparagus with a light sauce, crustacean cromesquis.
• Noble fish: turbot or sole with browned butter, roast salmon, sea bass fillet with fennel and lemon.
• Poultry: roast free-range chicken, supreme with cream sauce, delicate veal with morels.
• Cheeses: young Brie de Meaux, lightly aged Comté, mild tomme with milky nuances.
• Vegetable dishes: celery and parmesan risotto, roasted root vegetables, sage gnocchi.

Occasions

The Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru "Sous le Puits" 2020 is at home in carefully chosen moments where the art of the table meets precise culinary execution:

• To celebrate a seasonal dinner where silky textures and mineral relief respond to each other.
• At the centre of a gastronomic menu focused on fish and poultry, when harmony is paramount.
• As an insider's gift for a lover of great Burgundian whites.

Details

• Name: Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru "Sous le Puits" 2020, Domaine Louis Latour
• Appellation: Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru AOC
• Type: Dry white wine
• Vintage: 2020
• Grape: Chardonnay (100%)
• Terroir: clay-limestone hillsides, climat "Sous le Puits" above Blagny, vines around 35 years old
• Winemaking: fermentation in barrels, full malolactic fermentation
• Ageing: 8 to 10 months in French oak barrels, about 50% new, measured toast
• Cellaring: 5 to 7 years and beyond depending on desired development
• Serving temperature: cool, not iced, in large tulip glasses