For decades, a Bourgogne Blanc could come from the Macon, the Cote Chalonnaise, or from flatlands below Marsannay. All of it was simply “Bourgogne Blanc”.

New rules allow producers to give a little more information on their labels. Paul Pernot can now put “Cote d’Or” on his Bourgogne Blanc, indicating that it is from the most prized slopes of Burgundy, the golden slopes.

In this case, the Bourgogne Blanc comes from a slope within the commune of Puligny Montrachet – where the Pernots have 100% of their holdings – but just outside of AOC Puligny, along the border with Meursault. The vines were planted almost 50 years ago, and so are now fully capable of expressing its special terroir.

Pernod likes to make tense, pure Chardonnay. He uses little or no batonnage. There is little new oak, and none is used for the Bourgogne Blanc. The idea is to give you pure, unadulterated Puligny-esque pleasure. It does not show the intense power and structure of a Folatieres (Pernot makes a brilliant one), but it does show the great fruit quality that can emerge from these slopes.

Even before all that white Burgundy price inflation, it was really hard to get Burgundian Chardonnay at this price point anything close to this level of quantity. Vintages are consistently rated as “Outstanding” and “Top Value” by Burghound, though he has not yet gotten to the 2022. We are lucky to have this:

Paul Pernot Bourgogne Cote d'Or Chardonnay 2022 - $37.99