2022 Puligny-Montrachet 'Les 8 Climats', Alain Chavy

The 2022 vintage is still youthful in the glass. The warmer season has added concentration, which will benefit from a bit more time in the bottle to fully unfurl. Even at this early stage in its development, there's much to enjoy, starting with the wonderful golden hue that suggests a wine of great depth and complexity.

Effortlessly, it releases seductive aromas of dried apricot, pineapple, and freshly sliced pear from the glass. There’s a faint cedarwood tone in the background that hints at a creaminess to follow.

Onto the palate and… Whoosh! Layer upon layer of ripe, exotic stone fruit, progressing to more subdued notes of poached pear, apricot, and a touch of baked apple, leading to gently warming cedar and a creamy texture that is the result of extended lees aging and slow malolactic fermentation.

It’s perfectly balanced. The hint of creaminess and delicate woody notes are restrained by a fresh, mineral-laden zip that surges through on the finish with a crisp, refreshing zing. After the palate is cleansed, those sensual exotic fruit flavours slowly re-emerge. Delicious.

About 25% of the wine has been vinified in larger French oak barrels, subtly adding texture and warmth. Domaine Alain Chavy’s cellars are among the deepest and coolest in Burgundy, ensuring that malolactic fermentation—the process that imbues the wine with its creamy character—progresses at a glacial pace. This enhances both complexity and depth on the palate.

Clearly, this 2022 vintage is an absolute pleasure to savour now and will certainly continue to unfurl and evolve over the coming five-plus years. But once tasted, you might struggle to hold off pulling another cork!