Domaine Chavy-Chouet - Les Enseigneres - Puligny-Montrachet

The vines of Domaine Chavy-Chouet have been continuously tended since the Cistercian monks planted them in the middle ages. It was in 1893 when the Chavy family inherited the land and it has been in the family ever since with Romaric Chavy the seventh generation to run the winery.

Romaric’s training in wine began at birth, but his true studies started when he was eleven at a boarding school focusing on wine.

Since then he has worked in wine around the world before returning home to take over the winery in 2006. His approach combines tradition and modern technology with great attention to detail and a close relationship with the vines. Over the last 30 years eliminating the use of herbicides, in lieu of sulfur and copper to protect the plants and the land itself. Plowing is preferred to permanent grassing to encourage the roots to go deeper into the soil, and harvesting is done by hand. Minimum intervention is used in the vinification process, using gravity to fill the barrels.

Domaine Chavy-Chouet currently covers 15-hectares in some of the most beautiful villages of the Côte de Beaune: Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Saint-Aubin, Volnay and Pommard. Romaric produces wine from 14 A.O.C.'s (80% White, 20% Red). Following his father’s methods, Romaric does not fine or filter his wines, instead allows their purity to shine through.

The French Wine region of Burgundy (aka “Bourgogne”) may be small in size, but its influence is huge in the world of vino. The complexity of Burgundy can cast fear into the heart of even a seasoned wine pro, but fear not – the region need only be as complicated as you want it to be. Yes, it is home to some of the most expensive wines in the known universe, but there are also tasty and affordable wines.

Main grapes:

Pinot Noir originated in Burgundy and these vines cover 34% of the region, accounting for 29% of overall wine production. The red grape does extremely well in limestone and clay soil, which helps create their complexity. Pinot Noir wines from Burgundy range in colour from cherry to brick, are light in body, and typically have red fruit and spicy flavours. Gamay is a red grape also grown in Burgundy, but only makes up 10% of the vines.

Chardonnay is the primary grape for white wines in Burgundy, making up 48% of the vines and 68% of production. Chardonnay appreciates Burgundy’s marl soil, which gives it delicate floral, fruit, and mineral aromas and full-bodied flavours. Aligoté is the second white grape, accounting for 6% grown. {Read more about the ancient Aligoté grape in Burgundy.}

The region does produce a sparkling wine called Crémant de Bourgogne. It can be made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Aligoté, Gamay, Sacy, and Melon. Varieties include blanc, blanc de blancs, blanc de noirs, and rosé.

Puligny-Montrachet wine is produced in the commune of Puligny-Montrachet in Côte de Beaune of Burgundy. The Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) Puligny-Montrachet may be used for white wine and red with respectively Chardonnay and Pinot noir as the main grape variety. However, almost only white Puligny-Montrachet is produced, at around 99.5 per cent of the total production. There are four Grand Cru vineyards within Puligny-Montrachet, with Montrachet the most well-known, and 17 Premier Cru vineyards.

There are four Grand Cru vineyards located in the southern part of Puligny-Montrachet, bordering on Chassagne-Montrachet. Montrachet and Bâtard-Montrachet cross the communal border and are shared with Chassagne-Montrachet, totaling respectively 7.99 hectares (19.7 acres) and 11.24 hectares (27.8 acres) of vineyards in 2008. Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet, 3.53 hectares (8.7 acres), and Chevalier-Montrachet, 7.47 hectares (18.5 acres), are located entirely within Puligny-Montrachet.