Chablis Premier Cru Butteaux

Domaine Patrick Piuze is a recently founded but highly rated négociant business in Chablis, Burgundy, producing wines from numerous quality level with the local and ubiquitous Chardonnay grape. His own winery was founded in 2008. Although no vineyards are owned by Piuze, fruit is purchased from contract growers, many with old vines, who are advised by him regarding viticultural processes. All fruit is harvested by hand. 

Butteaux is the southernmost of three Premier Cru climats that make up the wider Chablis Montmains Premier Cru umbrella title. Butteaux's steep slope and its limestone-rich soils mark it out as a high-performing terroir. Chardonnay-based wines from Butteaux tend to be powerful and steely, with subtle characters of stone fruit and apple. The vineyard gets its name from the French word "butte", meaning the top of the hill, and this is clearly the higher portion of Montmains.

Pale, bright yellow-green. White peach, mint and chalk on the nose. Sweet on entry, then quite firm in the middle, with yellow fruit and nutmeg flavors complicated by salty and cool minty qualities. Finishes chalky and lightly tannic, with a touch of youthful bitterness. These vines are planted east-west, which means that the sun is always on top of the vineyard. This is superb wine.