Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Le Cailleret 2023 Michel Bouzereau & Fils | Burgundy

Michel Bouzereau et Fils ' Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Le Cailleret is in the tradition of the great wines of Puligny. On a historic Burgundy terroir, whose proximity to the Grand Cru Montrachet has marked the identity of the site for generations, the Le Cailleret climat enjoys the same conditions as its illustrious neighbor. With its gentle southeast-facing slope and clay-limestone soil dotted with iron oxides, the Chardonnay grapes find an incomparable chiselled texture and mineral brilliance. The 0.13 hectares of vines planted in 1980, overlooking the extremely rare Puligny Montrachet Premier Cru Les Pucelles, are cultivated by Domaine Michel Bouzereau et Fils using integrated viticulture methods. Meticulous tillage of the soil and deliberately limited yields, combined with meticulous winemaking, reveal the identity of this exceptional terroir. After natural fermentation using indigenous yeasts, the wine is aged in barrels, a third of which are new, for 16 to 18 months.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin : Where Meursault embodies density, the Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Le Cailleret from Domaine Michel Bouzereau et Fils expresses the tension and uprightness of the Puligny hillside. This vintage confirms the wine estate's constant quest for balance, with a pure expression of Chardonnay and a highly accurate use of wood. This rare Puligny Montrachet Premier Cru certainly evokes the depth and brilliance of a Grand Cru.

The nose opens with delicate floral notes of acacia, lime blossom and jasmine. Fragrances of fresh citrus, pear and fruit pulp add a real gourmand touch to the bouquet, tempered by the subtle chalky minerality of the terroir. Aeration adds a more complex component to the bouquet, with notes of fresh brioche, white pepper and gunflint.

On the palate, the silky texture is in rare harmony with the aromatic expression. The acidity perfectly balances the pulpy, fatty texture where flavors of stone fruit, candied citrus and buttered brioche blossom. The vibrant freshness of the chalky minerality amplifies the wine's relief and sapidity. The saline, energetic persistence of the finish stretches the wine to interminable length.