Domaine Alain Chavy’s 2023 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières is a classic Côte de Beaune Chardonnay from one of Puligny’s best-known premier cru sites. Alain Chavy founded his 10-hectare domaine in 2003 after a family estate split, and the wines have a reputation for balancing “saline minerality, power, and elegance,” aided by long, cool élevage in what is described as Puligny’s deepest cellar (5.5 meters underground).

The fruit comes from Chavy’s 1.4-hectare parcel in Les Folatières, on a steep, east-facing slope at around 300 meters with thin limestone soils. Vines were planted in 1962, 1988, and 2013. Winemaking is traditional: whole-bunch pressing, fermentation with indigenous yeasts in French oak (about 25% new), and aging roughly 12 months on lees in barrel, followed by about six months in tank. Alcohol is reported around 12.5% (some retail listings show 13%).

In 2023, local hail meant “careful sorting” was needed, but the vintage is described as plentiful and high quality, with ripe yet balanced fruit.

On the critic front, reviews are strong. Vinous rated it 92 (90–92) points, with Neal Martin noting it is “much more backward” right now, with aromatics “not wanting to come out and play,” but also praising “satisfying depth and grip” on the palate. That comment reads more like a snapshot of youth than a fundamental limitation, suggesting the wine may reward patience.

Burghound scored it 91 points and gives a clear picture of its appeal: “ripe aromas of both white and yellow fruit, especially peach,” plus “hints of jasmine tea and star anise,” followed by “fresh, delicious and generously proportioned” flavors and a “markedly stony finish.” Burghound calls it “solid quality… enjoyed young or aged for up to a decade.”