At the top of the Puligny hill, where the chalk outcrops and the morning light dresses the vine rows in an almost pictorial glow, the Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chalumeaux 2023 from the Domaine Louis Latour reveals the purity of a great Burgundy Chardonnay. From vines of around 35 years old, grown on chalky and marly soils with a south-east exposure, this Premier Cru combines intensity and grace. Hand harvesting, deliberately limited yields of approx. 40 hl/ha and precise barrel ageing define a style where substance merges with uprightness. In the glass, everything aligns with elegance: the fruit's pulp, the noble stamp of oak, and the mineral brightness that extends the tasting experience. For a gastronomic dinner, a shared moment among connoisseurs or the solitary pleasure of a suspended instant, this cuvée brings classical serenity to the table, enhanced by a modern, luminous touch.

Blend and winemaking

This Premier Cru is made exclusively from Chardonnay, the flagship grape of the Côte de Beaune. The grapes, hand-harvested to preserve their integrity, are vinified following a traditional approach. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in barrels, followed by a full malolactic fermentation which softens the edges and brings a silkier texture. The 8 to 10 months ageing in French oak barrels, notably from the Tonnellerie Louis Latour, includes about 40 % new oak with a controlled toast. The aim, clearly achieved, is to orchestrate the balance between aromatic breadth, discreet oak and the mineral expression of the terroir, preserving the energy of the cru and enhancing its depth without ever masking it.

Tasting notes

• Appearance : Bright pale gold, limpid, with great visual purity.
• Nose : A precise bouquet of white peach, fine élevage touches evoking warm bread and a hint of sweet almond, all crossed by a chalky thread.
• Palate : Generous, caressing attack; mid-palate on almond paste and fleshy fruit, then a vibrant length driven by a fresh minerality that brings tension and persistence.

Serving temperature and tips

Serve between 12 and 14 °C in Burgundy white wine glasses to encourage the bouquet to open and the texture to show its precision. Open the bottle about fifteen minutes before serving to harmonise fruit, oak and minerality. This cuvée can be enjoyed now for its measured generosity, and has a cellaring potential of 5 to 7 years, allowing the oak to integrate further and the saline thread to gain in relief. Store in a cool cellar, protected from vibrations and light, lying down to preserve the cork.

Food pairings

• Aperitifs : light gougères, delicate fish rillettes, parmesan cream tartlets.
• Starters : scallop carpaccio, white asparagus with mousseline sauce, sea bream tartare with citrus.
• Main courses : sole meunière, roasted turbot with browned butter, roasted squab with grapes, delicate poultry with a reduced jus.
• Cheeses : aged Comté, Beaufort, firm goat cheeses with a subtle lactic character.
• Desserts : lightly sweet citrus desserts, thin almond-and-pear tart, lemon sablé with zest.

Occasions to enjoy

The Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chalumeaux 2023 is the natural companion for:

• Elevating a celebratory meal where precise pairings make all the difference.
• During a gourmet dinner focused on seafood or noble poultry.
• As a gift for an enthusiast to celebrate the art of refined living with distinction.

Details

• Name : Domaine Louis Latour, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chalumeaux 2023
• Appellation : Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru AOC
• Type : Dry white wine
• Vintage : 2023
• Grape : Chardonnay (100 %)
• Terroir : chalky and marly soils, south-east exposure, high slope of Puligny
• Viticulture : vines around 35 years old, hand-harvested, controlled yield approx. 40 hl/ha
• Winemaking : barrel fermentation and 100 % malolactic
• Ageing : 8 to 10 months in French oak barrels, of which 40 % new
• Cellaring : 5 to 7 years
• Serving temperature : 12–14 °C