2009 Puligny-Montrachet

Pernot was another Cote de Beaune vigneron who told me that while 2010 is a good vintage for white wines, it may be even better for reds. "The 2010s are better balanced than the 2008s and 2009s," said Pernot, "but that doesn't mean they're better. For example, the 2008s are more concentrated and powerful, and higher in acidity." Pernot started harvesting on the early side, on September 17, as his most important client Joseph Drouhin was afraid that rot would become a problem. Potential alcohol levels were in the 12.5% to 13% range, and the wines were chaptalized about half a degree. Pernot planned to bottle these wines in early August, as he usually does. (Louis/Dressner Selections, New York, NY; Robert Chadderdon Selections, x000D New York, NY; also brought into the U.S. as a Peter Vezan selection and x000D through Domaines & Saveurs/Jeanne-Marie de Champs)

"A fine, good year, but not as consistent as 2008" was the way Pernot described 2009. The harvest brought a generous crop at this estate, except in Batard-Montrachet. But Pernot sees 2008 as "la grande annee de garde" here. He picked very late in 2008, getting very concentrated grapes and high sugars and tossing out a percentage of rotten grapes. The malos, which usually finish very early here (the '09s were done by January), were the latest ever, ending in July. (Louis/Dressner Selections, New York, NY; Robert Chadderdon Selections, New York, NY; also brought into the U.S. as a Peter Vezan Selection and through Domaines et Saveurs/Jeanne-Marie de Champs)