Puligny Montrachet 1er cru Les Combettes 2023 Domaine Matrot

The Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes 2023 from Domaine Matrot is a masterful balance between ripeness and saline minerality, a reference among Puligny Premier Crus and an essential bottling from this domaine. Located north of Puligny, on the border with Meursault, Les Combettes faces due east and yields in this warm vintage a fleshy, substantial wine, a refined Puligny in perfect equilibrium, with carefully controlled ripeness and vibrant freshness.

Terroir and vineyard

Les Combettes occupy a privileged position north of Puligny Montrachet, at the frontier with Meursault, on a gentle south-facing slope. The soil is argilo-calcareous with traces of marl, resting on a stony substratum. The Chardonnay vines, around forty years old, are farmed using non-certified organic practices, with hand harvesting. Grapes are pressed whole on pneumatic press with 24 hours of settling before racking and filling into barrel. Fermentation, temperature-controlled, proceeds with native yeasts, followed by full malolactic conversion. Ageing lasts fifteen months on lees in oak barrels of one to three years old, with no new wood, followed by time in tank before bottling.

Tasting profile

The colour is pale brilliant gold. The nose, initially austere, reveals fine stone minerality with white fruits, juicy pear and apple, lemon zest, white peach, acacia flowers and delicate hazelnut notes. The palate is well balanced, pure yellow fruit, nectarine, with gentle spice notes and vibrant freshness. Minerality runs through the wine, giving it a tonic finish, where soft spice returns. The finish is long and saline.

The domaine

A family domaine since 1835, based in Meursault, Domaine Matrot has been run since 2016 by the sixth generation, Adèle and Elsa Matrot, daughters of Thierry and Pascale, who have preserved the domaine's style while adding greater finesse, making the wines more accessible in their youth without diminishing their ageing potential. Its white wines display remarkable density and intensity, and count among the most consistent and respected on the Côte de Beaune.

Food pairing

This Puligny Montrachet pairs with turbot, lobster, scallops, Bresse chicken with cream or pressed cheese. Served at 12 to 14°C, with light decanting, it can be enjoyed now or kept for a decade.