Domaine Benoît Ente : Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru "Clos de la Truffière" 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for Domaine Benoît Ente's Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru "Clos de la Truffière" 2023

Tasting Notes

Appearance
The colour reveals a bright pale yellow hue, enhanced by delicate silvery highlights.

Nose
Showing great finesse, the bouquet opens with aromas of ripe lemon, green apple and pear. With aeration, it gains complexity, revealing notes of white flowers, fresh almond and hazelnut, all underscored by a mineral streak reminiscent of gunflint.

Palate
The attack is precise and crystalline, introducing a full-bodied texture perfectly structured by a vertical backbone. A deep, saline minerality energises the palate through to a remarkably persistent finish, marked by citrus notes and wet stone.

Food and Wine Pairing

This fine white wine pairs beautifully with noble fish such as roasted turbot or sea bass, as well as shellfish like lobster or scallops. It also shines alongside creamy poultry or white meat dishes, as well as regional specialities such as pike quenelle, and characterful cheeses like Époisses.

Serving and Cellaring

Boasting strong ageing potential, this Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru "Clos de la Truffière" 2023 can be cellared to reach its peak between approximately 2026 and 2038.

The rigour and purity of a great Burgundy estate

The Estate

Located in the heart of the Côte de Beaune in Burgundy, France, Domaine Benoît Ente was truly founded in 1997, the year in which the eponymous winemaker began vinifying his own cuvées. Now run by Benoît Ente himself, the estate spans approximately 6 hectares. Renowned for its exacting standards, the domaine favours organic viticulture that respects local ecosystems. Its wines, prized for their tension and purity, precisely reflect the richness of the region's limestone terroirs.

The Vineyard

The climat farmed as a monopole for this cuvée covers around one hectare within the Puligny-Montrachet appellation. Perched at 320 metres above sea level and facing the rising sun, this walled plot enclosed by dry-stone walls benefits from a cool microclimate. The old vines, some of which are over 60 years old, dig deep into a soil composed of clay over a bedrock of stratified limestone. The vineyard is farmed according to organic principles, without herbicides or chemical fertilisers, with Guyot-Poussard pruning used to preserve the vines' health.

The Vintage

2023 stood out for its balanced weather conditions. This mild climate allowed the growing cycle to unfold optimally, resulting in harmonious grape ripeness at harvest time.

Winemaking and Ageing

The grapes are hand-harvested in small crates to preserve the integrity of the berries. Fermentation of this Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru "Clos de la Truffière" 2023 takes place using indigenous yeasts. The process spans 18 months in total: the wine is first aged on fine lees for 12 months in oak barrels, with a measured proportion of 15 to 20% new oak. The blend is then refined in tanks for a further 6 months, allowing for natural clarification before bottling without filtration.

Grape Variety

100% Chardonnay