2011 Puligny Montrachet

There is a slight salty estuarine tang affecting the 2011 Puligny-Montrachet Village, almost a touch of wet clay. The palate is clean and fresh with vibrant fresh pear and red apple notes on the entry, armed with a delicate saline touch on the short but crisp finish. Fine. Jacques Carillon kindly offered two bottles of 2011 to taste, having just been -chaperoned- through his marvellous 2012s. He told me that he sees his 2011s as being located in between 2009 and 2010 in style. Importer: Rosenthal Wine Merchant, Pine Plains, NY; tel. (800) 910-1990; and through various importers in UK, including Field Morris & Verdin, Goedhuis and Charles Taylor Wines.

Pale yellow. Aromas of yellow peach, musky spices and white truffle. Round, moderately intense and fine-grained, but without quite the inner-mouth energy or grip of the 2012 version. Finishes with a slight dry edge. I wanted more mid-palate sweetness and flesh. This is carrying a rather high 4.8 g/l of acidity, with a low pH of 3.05.

A wine of exceptional finesse, Carillon's 2011 Puligny-Montrachet is striking in its beauty. Crushed rocks, lemon, mint and white flowers meld together in this beautiful entry-level Puligny. The 2011 finishes with superb energy and intensity. It is a true standout within its category.