2022 Jean-Louis Chavy Puligny Montrachet Perrieres Premier Cru, Burgundy

The Jean-Louis Chavy Puligny-Montrachet Les Perrières Premier Cru is a masterclass in precision and restraint. Les Perrières is one of the most mineral-driven and focused Premier Cru sites in Puligny, perched on well-draining limestone-rich soils with a south-eastern exposure that bathes the vines in morning light. This vineyard sits just below the iconic Clavoillon and Les Referts, and its wines are often described as the most Chablis-like of Puligny’s Premiers Crus—tightly wound, racy, and built for ageing.

Jean-Louis Chavy farms with traditional Burgundian methods, favouring low yields and gentle handling in the cellar. Fermentation is carried out in oak barrels, typically with 15 to 20 percent new oak, allowing the purity of the vineyard to shine without the oak ever dominating. No bâtonnage is used, preserving freshness and line. The result is a Chardonnay of laser-sharp clarity and structure.

In the glass, the wine opens with lifted aromas of crushed oyster shell, lemon zest, green apple skin, and faint white blossom. The palate is tense and linear, with a core of citrus and stone fruit wrapped around a spine of saline minerality. There's a whisper of hazelnut and struck flint on the finish, a nod to its Puligny roots. With age, the wine deepens and unfurls into layers of honeyed citrus, toast, and chalk.

Critics consistently praise Chavy’s Les Perrières for its discipline and purity. Jasper Morris MW has called it “a textbook Puligny Perrières, with exceptional precision and ageing potential.” Allen Meadows (Burghound) typically notes its “fine delineation, cool citrus character, and excellent length,” scoring recent vintages in the 91–93 range. The 2022 is shaping up as one of Chavy’s finest, reflecting a vintage that balanced ripeness with freshness beautifully.

This is a wine for lovers of crystalline Chardonnay. Enjoy it now for its youthful zip, or cellar for 6 to 10 years to see its full complexity emerge. Ideal with fresh oysters, grilled lobster, or delicate white fish in beurre blanc.