2017 Batard Montrachet

The domaine is one of Burgundy's hidden gems as the tiny amounts of wines that are made keep it off the radar of most. Jasper Morris calls it "the absolute crème de la creme... quintessentially representative of Puligny at its best”. According to Robert Parker, Paul Pernot makes “exquisite white wine… However, few people are aware of just how stunning these wines can be". The Bâtard is one of their ultimate expressions and the plot from which it is taken could not be better. It's a rare wine and particularly scarce in this vintage. The wine comes from vines mostly planted in the 1980s, and with Pernot pulling up over a third of his Bâtard vines after the 2016 Vintage for replanting, it means there is significantly less than usual to go around. Soft almost watery straw colour, leads to a deceptively deep, and intense nose – very focused and pure. Concentrated and compact. Real depth evident, complex layers of different but already well-defined aromas – rounded citrus peel, whipped butter, grilled pine nuts, blossom. Some flinty, smoky minerality. Attractive candied feel to the ripe but fresh fruit character, intense, lovely weight on the mid-palate leads to a long, mouth-coating and persistent saline finish. Lots of acidity, which needs time to fully integrate, will permit long development through extended cellaring. This is a serious Batard, should be sensibly left in a cellar for at least 5 years, but will easily grow and evolve for a decade and beyond. Impressive on every level.