Domaine du Cellier aux Moines : Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru "Les Pucelles" 2018

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru Les Pucelles 2018 from Cellier aux Moines

Tasting
Appearance
Clear, the robe displays a beautiful golden colour.
Nose

Expressive in its youth, this wine develops throughout its evolution a rich aromatic palette that perfectly expresses its terroir.
Elegant and wonderfully fresh, the nose blends notes of yellow fruits with subtle hints of spices and vanilla.
Palate
The palate seduces with its airy structure, minerality and refinement, all signs of great ageing potential.

The elegance and aromatic finesse of a Chardonnay from Puligny-Montrachet

The estate
The Domaine du Cellier aux Moines was founded in 1130 by the Cistercian monks of the Abbey of La Ferté. These monks were the first to build the famous walled vineyards (clos) surrounding the Burgundy vineyards. Since 2004, the Pascal family has successfully undertaken to restore the estate and give it back its noble letters.
An extensive plot-by-plot approach as well as a replanting programme have been launched since 2006-2008 in order to create a fruitful harmony between the soil and the vines.
Nearly all of the estate's wines are currently being certified in Organic Agriculture as well as in biodynamics.

The vineyard

The Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru Clos les Pucelles 2018 cuvée from Domaine du Cellier aux Moines comes from a small 27-are plot with a south-eastern exposure in the commune of Puligny-Montrachet, in the former Clos des Meix. Planted in 1970, the vines are cultivated at an altitude of between 205 and 207 metres on very fine clay-limestone soils. The vineyard has been managed biodynamically since 2017.

The vintage

The optimal conditions throughout the year and particularly during the summer allowed the grapes to reach exceptional levels of maturity and quality.
A knowledge of the vineyard refined over the vintages, the rigorous practice of biodynamics for the second consecutive year and extensive plot-by-plot work made it possible to harvest healthy grapes at full maturity and with remarkable balance.

Winemaking and ageing

The grapes are sorted a first time in the vineyard and, if necessary, a second time in the cellar. Following a gentle pressing, the must is left to settle by gravity for 12 hours. Vinification takes place in barrels (of which 50% are new), as does ageing over 20 months, accompanied by some bâtonnage. One third of the barrels are of larger capacity (400 litres) than the traditional 228-litre Burgundy pièce, in order to integrate the oak in an optimal way.
Before bottling, a final stage of ageing is carried out in vats for 3 months to homogenise the whole. The estate's cellar operates by natural gravity over four levels, from the arrival of the grapes to bottling, without any pumping.

Blend

Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru Clos les Pucelles 2018 from Domaine du Cellier aux Moines is 100% Chardonnay.