Wine Advisor
Bernard Moreau et Fils, Puligny Montrachet 2017
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Description
About the Producer
This fine domaine is based in Chassagne-Montrachet, and its roots go back to 1809 when Auguste Moreau built its first cellar. The majority of the domaine’s 14 hectares (out of which 9 are owned and five are farmed) were assembled by Marcel Moreau in the 1930s. Bernard Moreau, the father of Alexandre and Benoit who presently run the domaine, took over the vineyards and cellar in the early 1960s at the age of 14 years , but by the 1970s he had already secured a sound reputation for the domaine. Nowadays, Alex and Benoit belong to the new generation of talented wine makers in the Cote d’Or, who went through formal studies and have experienced working in other wine regions around the world. There is natural approach to managing the vineyards: there is no use of herbicides or pesticides, and only plowing is applied. Only organic fertilizers are being used. Pruning is the main method used to keep the yields low and under control. Harvest is done solely by hand and fermentation is naturally originated by the natural grapes’ yeasts. The grapes are lightly crushed before pressing and left to settle overnight. All wines are aged in wood, without racking or lees stirring, retaining the natural carbon dioxide of the process for as long as possible. The Bourgognes are aged in older barrels, before being assembled in tanks. The village wines are aged in barrels 25% of which are new, and the premiere crus see 30-50% new oak. The Batard-Montrachet and Chevalier-Montrachet (both originate from farmed land) receive 100% new oak, but these barrels are only light to medium toasted to avoid excessive oak character. Unfortunately, there are only 3 barrels of these fine grand crus combined every year. The total elevage in barrels is considered vintage by vintage and vary between 12-20 months, plus another one to three months in tank to slowly settle the lees. The wines are bottled without filtration but with a slight fining.
