Puligny-Montrachet, Domaine Alain Chavy, 2020

The Chavy family have been in Puligny for almost 200 years but the story begins much later in 1976 when Gérard Chavy decided to stop selling his grapes to négociants and bottle his wine under his own label. In 2003 Gerard’s sons, Alain and Jean-Louis, decided to split the estate following artistic differences and started their own Domaines. Alain Chavy’s 7 Hectares covers some of the most prestigious Puligny Premier Crus and with a restrained style that focuses on purity of fruit, has quickly become a jewel in the heart of the appellation. With a hands-off approach, and a focus on freshness, Alain producers wines of purity, precision and tension.
His vineyards are sustainably farmed, with all cuvées hand harvested and barrel fermented at low temperatures; Alain’s secret to maintaining depth, complexity and energy. The Chavy holding in Les Clavoillons is all that stops Domaine Leflaive from having the monopole of this 5.59 hectare vineyard, and Alain’s half hectare of 70 year old vines really excelled in 2020.

This is very elegant with floral notes and yellow stone fruit coming through. Better balance than the 2019s with precision and tension backing up the primary aromas. This was one of Alain’s best vintages and certainly his earliest harvest ever (started on the 18th August). Just 20% new oak used. Nick Daniell, Club Wine Buyer