Burgundy, France
Philippe Pernot, the grandson of Puligny legend Paul Pernot, married into the Belicard family and established this young and exceedingly promising domaine. Philippe farms his fifteen-acre estate organically, performs a gentle, natural fermentation, never fines nor filters, and keeps new oak to a minimum. The result of this minimalist approach is one of the most exciting white Burgundy finds in memory. A brilliant green-glinted lemon gold in the glass, Pernot-Belicard’s Bourgogne Chardonnay – from five different parcels around Puligny-Montrachet – casts classic Puligny aromas of bright limestone soil, lemon oil, green apple, and smoky lees. On the palate, the wine conveys a lovely precise, detailed, and delicate kernel of buttery, limestone-driven Chardonnay fruit. The tension between shimmering acidity, limestone minerality, and richness is what separates white Burgundy from every other Chardonnay producing region. Buy this by the case and serve now and over the coming five to seven years with all things seafood, rich potato gratins, morels in a cream sauces, or light poultry preparations. This is white Burgundy to thrill the purists among you!
A February 2019 newsletter selection