In the heart of the Côte de Beaune, the Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Referts 2023, Domaine Faiveley presents itself as a composition of rare accuracy, where mineral rigour meets the grace of an elite Chardonnay. Born on a slope of stone and light, it embodies Burgundian restraint, a style that favours uprightness, tactile finesse and aromatic resonance. This cuvée is aimed at aesthetes seeking a white of great precision, able to illuminate a fine-dining menu as well as to evolve gracefully in the cellar. Its chiselled character, supported by citrus freshness and a saline backbone, immediately enhances delicate dishes, while its progressive depth, subtle and nuanced, marks a premier cru with the temperament of a great wine. In the glass, nothing ostentatious, only the purity of a place, the elegant restraint of well-handled oak and the straightness of a luminous vintage, for a tasting moment that evokes both pleasure and the memory of legendary terroirs.

Assemblage et vinification

Produced exclusively from Chardonnay, this premier cru comes from the Les Referts climat, a lieu-dit of Puligny-Montrachet known for its chalky structure and its ability to produce upright, profound whites. Within this area, Maison Faiveley manages a micro-parcel of around 0.37 hectare, partly planted in the 1990s, which gives the cuvée a distinct identity. Careful harvesting, gentle pressing, controlled fermentations, followed by ageing on fine lees to enrich the texture without weighing it down, form the discreet score of a patiently honed know-how. Oak is used sparingly, in the service of purity and length. The goal is clear: preserve the fruit's energy, magnify the limestone thread and offer a white that is at once bright, expressive and impeccably suited to the table.

Notes de dégustation

• Appearance: Brilliant clarity with bright highlights, crossed by delicate reflections that announce a pure, concentrated texture.
• Nose: Precise expression combining fresh citrus, zesty peel and pulp, with discreet exotic fruits, white flowers, hazelnut and an elegant toasty note. A hint of wet stone underlines the mineral dimension.
• Palate: Generous attack then a lithe trajectory, tightened by a chiselled acidity. The mid-palate blends white fruit flesh, chalky relief and subtle toasted almond accents. The finish, long and salivating, reveals a clear minerality and a classy spicy persistence.

Serving temperature and tips

Serve between 11 and 12°C in tulip-shaped glasses for great white wines to promote floral nuances and mineral precision. A brief decanting or a few minutes of aeration before serving helps open the bouquet without blunting freshness. Store in a stable cellar, away from light, around 12°C with controlled humidity. The wine has a cellaring potential of several years, gaining tertiary complexity and texture over time while retaining the characteristic tension of great Pulignys.

Food pairings

• Seafood and iodised flavours: deep-water oysters, clams, gilthead bream sashimi, Oscietra caviar.
• Delicate starters: scallop carpaccio, lightly seared langoustines, soft-boiled egg with chanterelles.
• More assertive dishes: roasted turbot with browned butter, lobster with preserved lemon, farm chicken with supreme sauce, Parmesan risotto.
• Cheeses: aged Comté, 24-month Parmesan, ash-ripened goat, pressed sheep's cheese (tomme).
• Vegetal notes: white asparagus, herb-filled ravioli, braised fennel.

Tasting occasions

This premier cru naturally presents itself:

• At a gastronomic dinner where precise pairings elevate every bite.
• To celebrate a special occasion, when you want a white that is both vibrant and profound.
• As a connoisseur's gift, destined for a lover of great Burgundian Chardonnays.

Characteristics

• Name: Domaine Faiveley, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru "Les Referts" 2023
• Appellation: Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru AOC
• Type: Dry still white wine
• Vintage: 2023
• Grape variety: Chardonnay
• Alcohol content: not disclosed
• Ageing: aged on fine lees, duration not disclosed
• Volume: 75 cl
• Cellaring: several years depending on cellar conditions
• Serving temperature: 11–12°C