2017 Domaine Paul Pillot Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jean, Burgundy

“Domaine Paul Pillot is one of those producers making whites with a real gleam, a luminous clarity. I taste hundreds of wines in Burgundy week, and have to scramble through my notes to check in with my views on many of them, but with Domaine Paul Pillot I remember where the table was in the room, and where I was standing as the wine hit my tastebuds.” 

“Characterful, elegantly textural and mouthwateringly incisive, these are superb white Burgundies, and to my mind, Pillot is one of a handful of exciting producers who win Chassagne-Montrachet the title of Burgundy's most interesting white wine producing village today. That he stills flies somewhat under the radar—at least relative to the quality to be found here—is perplexing. What's more, that's bound to change, and sooner rather than later, so readers shouldn't hesitate to buy whatever bottles they can find.” 

As mentioned in the note for the red, the Clos Saint-Jean lies right next door to the cellars and the Estate’s parcel sits in the heart of the original Clos (i.e. the vines are surrounded by stone walls). It’s a terroir that was historically known for reds as much as whites and the whites it delivers today offer plenty of texture and savoury complexity. Many of the vines are now 80-plus years old which brings added depth and complexity. The note below captures it well.