Critic ratings
vinous
2019
Rating:
92
–94
The 2019 Puligny-Montrachet Les Combettes 1er Cru comes from vines in excess of 50-year old vines and was picked on 11 September. It demonstrates more precision and a little more tension than the Les Folatières. This contains a very subtle smokiness that complements the green apple and pear aromas - more Puligny and less exotic than the Folatières. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, lovely dried apricot and Clementine notes segue into a very composed finish that lingers with traces of white chocolate on the aftertaste. Excellent.
vinous
2017
Rating:
92
–94
The 2017 Puligny-Montrachet Les Combettes 1er Cru is vibrant and energetic, offering much more mineralité and terroir expression on the nose compared to the Folatières. The small yield renders the aromatics more concentrated. The palate is very well balanced with a killer line of acidity, superb concentration, a tang of seaweed on the front of the tongue and a saline back palate. This is a Puligny that seems to have relished the benevolent growing season. Superb.
robert_parker
2021
Rating:
90
–93
The 2021 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes mingles aromas of sweet yellow orchard fruit and mirabelle plum with notes of hazelnuts and clear honey. Medium to full-bodied, ample and satiny, with a fleshy core of fruit, it's more layered and concentrated than the Folatières.
robert_parker
2020
Rating:
91
–93
The 2020 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes is richer and more layered, revealing aromas of pear, orange oil, baking spices, white flowers and honey, followed by a medium to full-bodied, lively and nicely concentrated palate, concluding with a saline finish.
robert_parker
2019
Rating:
92
–94
Aromas of crisp nashi pear, white flowers, pastry cream and apricot preface the 2019 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes, a medium to full-bodied wine that's more muscular and concentrated than this year's Folatières, with lively acids and a mouthwatering finish.
robert_parker
2018
Rating:
92
–94
The 2018 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes reveals attractive aromas of pear, orange oil, toasted hazelnuts and pastry cream. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, with a richer, more textural and more concentrated profile than the Folatières, differences of both site and vine age being at play here.
robert_parker
2017
Rating:
91
–93
The 2017 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes opens in the glass with aromas of green orchard fruit, dried white flowers and beeswax. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, with more flesh, concentration and chewy extract than the Folatières, chunkier in profile but deeper and more profound.
robert_parker
2016
Rating:
89
–91
The 2016 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes was also touched by the frost more severely than the Folatières. The vines here are older than those located in Folatières, but I feel that the frost impacted more acutely apropos vigor, since it does not emit the same brightness. The palate is well balanced with an attractive orange zest and apricot opening, smooth and slightly waxy with a brisk, nicely detailed finish. It's a decent Puligny handicapped by the vintage.
robert_parker
2015
Rating:
91
–93
The 2015 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes has a focused bouquet, subtle and perhaps showing a greater mineral edge than the Folatières. The palate is a little richer than the aforementioned premier cru: veins of apricot and fresh mango, the older vines just imparting more race and tension towards the poised finish. This comes recommended.
robert_parker
2015
Rating:
92
–92
Domaine Dujac's 2015 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes opens in the glass with a youthful bouquet of pear, preserved lemon, nutmeg and wheat toast. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, concentrated and chewy with extract, but its texture and amplitude are balanced by succulent acids, structural tension and nice grip on the finish.
robert_parker
2014
Rating:
91
–93
The 2014 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes, from 50-year-old vines, has a strict, granitic bouquet that is a little terse at first but opens nicely with aeration. The palate is crisp and tense, citric in the mouth with good tension and lovely salinity on the finish. It delivers everything you want from a Combettes and it will be difficult to resist in its youth.
