Vincent Girardin Puligny-Montrachet Vieilles Vignes 2023

Drink it now or cellar for up to 15 years. No need to decant, but best to open it half an hour before service. Founded in 1982 by Vincent Girardin, part of an 11th-generation family of winemakers, the homonymous Burgundy estate extends over 20 hectares of vineyards. Since 2012, the domain has been owned by Compagnie de Vins d'Autrefois and is now managed by Eric Germain. The Chardonnay grapes are selected and harvested from vineyards located in the terroirs of Les Tremblots, Rue au Vaches, Houillères, Paupillots, and Nosroyes in the municipality of Puligny-Montrachet. The vines, approximately 40 years old, are rooted in brown limestone soils with layers of clay-limestone marl of varying depths. Fermentation occurs spontaneously with indigenous yeasts in 228-liter French oak barrels (15% new oak). The finished wine then ages on the lees for approximately 14 months before being blended and bottled according to the lunar calendar. In the glass, Vincent Girardin Puligny-Montrachet Vieilles Vignes reveals a broad and complex aromatic profile with fruity notes of green apple and ripe grapes, hints of fern, hawthorn, and lemongrass, followed by nuances of marzipan, honey, and hazelnut. On the palate, it is full-bodied and concentrated, with a distinct minerality that lingers on the refreshing finish. Try it with lobster or foie gras.