Sylvain Debord Puligny-Montrachet Vieilles Vignes 2021
A full and elegant Puligny-Montrachet showing nutty and toasty tones with butter nuances culminating in a long and fresh mineral finish.
This Puligny-Montrachet is from a blend of two different climats within the Puligny-Montrachet appellation. The hillsides slopes are around 3% gradient and face east which benefit from gentle morning sun, giving the grapes time to develop complexity, while cooler overnight influences bring balancing acidity. The old vines are gown in complex, stony deep clay and limestone soils and are densely planted. Cultivated according to the traditional methods, they are maintained with a large and aerated canopy for sun protection in the warmer vintages of late. They are sustainably farmed with practices such as using fresh compost from local farms to nourish the vines. General treatments include copper and sulphur, and mechanical ploughing takes place to maintain the vineyard soils. Hand harvested at optimum maturity.
Vinified following a philosophy of minimal intervention. The grapes were immediately pressed to preserve the quality. The must was settled for 24 hours before being transferred by gravity to 228-litre French oak barriques where wild yeast fermentation took place at temperatures maintained at below 23°C to retain freshness and aromatics. The wine was matured on its lees for 12 months in barriques from a blend of forests in Central France, with 60% new oak, 30% first use and 10% second use, without bâtonnage.
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Alcoholic strength | 13% |
| Country | France |
| Region | Burgundy |
| Subregion | Puligny-Montrachet |
| Grapes | Chardonnay 100% |
| Dry/Sweet value | 1 |
| Contains sulphites | Yes |
| Vegetarian | Yes |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Milk | No |
| Eggs | No |
| Organic | No |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Diam |
Sylvain Debord is Burgundian by birth and by heart. He studied at the Lycée Viticole de Beaune in 1991, where he met many talented winegrowers including Nicolas Potel with whom he has worked since 2006. From 1994, Sylvain studied at the University of Burgundy, where he contributed to several technical research projects which continued into the 2000s. At the same time, he managed the UB Experimental Viticultural Centre in Marsannay-la-Côte, with which he still maintains regular contact. Sylvain is passionate about respecting the natural environment, cultural environments and conserving the land for future generations and he vinifies grapes from his close network of vineyard partners, which covers a mosaic of vineyards and appellations. He uses a minimalist and refined approach to produce his signature style and his wines are elegant, pure and fresh.
