Lot presentation

Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Referts Terres de Velle 2020

The wine

The Chardonnay grapes used to produce this cuvée stem from single delimited vineyard parcels in Puligny (Les Perrières) and Meursault (Les Charmes) where they draw the nutrients they require to flourish from the predominantly chalky, sloping soils. Approximately fifty years old, the vines enjoy an ideal south-easterly exposure. With a mere 700 bottles made each year, the production is tiny and extremely meticulous. The grapes are hand-picked and placed in small crates to prevent bruising. Once in the winery, the grapes are pneumatically pressed gently for just over two hours, and the resulting juice is transferred into vats and left to settle overnight. The resulting liquid is then placed in French oak casks, where natural yeasts trigger alcoholic and malolactic fermentations. The wine is aged in wood between 16 and 18 months and bottled unfiltered, based on the lunar calendar. The golden-coloured wine reveals an aromatic bouquet of extraordinary elegance. Honeysuckle and fresh almonds introduce a mineral palate heralding tremendous ageing potential.

About the Producer Terres De Velle

It was after having learnt their skills with Alex Gambal in Beaune that Sophie and Fabrice Laronce decided to settle down in Auxey-Duresses, acquiring 6 hectares across some 14 prestigious appellations. They practise sustainable growing in order to keep the terroir at the heart of their work. In the winery, they let the indigenous yeasts carry out fermentation. For the reds, maceration can last between two and three weeks, allowing the clear Pinot Noir juice to colour and concentrate. The wine can be aged for up to 18 months in casks. These wine makers avoid any filtering, a process that can alter the quality of the cuvée. The result is precise, balanced and greatly elegant. Each cuvée is crafted to express its own identity.

Detailed characteristics