Paul Pernot Bienvenue Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2000

Paul Pernot has run the domaine since 1955 and now his three sons are assisting him. They own 19 hectares of fantastic vineyards in the Cote de Beaune, but sell a vast majority of it to negociants, including Drouhin. The 20% or so that they bottle themselves are pure, elegant and delicious representations of their best parcels. While most wines see some new oak and they only use barrels for three years, he bottles early in order to preserve freshness and avoid any noticeable oakiness. The top wines, which always make a great comparison, are the Grand Crus Batard-Montrachet and Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet. Two Chassagne parcels and one Puligny parcel (.61 ha total) with vine ages of 10-30 years go into the Batard. The Bienvenues comes from two parcels (.37 ha total) with 10 and 40 year old vines, respectively. As great as both wines have been over the years, they only get more distinct and complex as the vines age. Pernot also owns great plots in some of the Puligny Premiers Crus, including Pucelles (.28 ha of 35 year old vines), Folatieres (45 year old vines) and Clos de la Garenne (in Champ-Canet adjacent to Folatieres). Their Puligny villages is also excellent and comes from 4 different parcels with vines as old as 50 years. It is vinified in steel but aged oak. The Bougogne Blanc, which comes from vines within Puligny on the Meursault border, is also vinified in steel and is an excellent value. Both wines achieve remarkable complexity given their appellations and oak treatment.