Domaine Génot-Boulanger - Puligny-Montrachet Les Levrons 2023
Located in Meursault, Domaine Génot-Boulanger was founded in 1974 by Charles-Henri Génot and Marie Boulanger, before being taken over in 2008 by their daughter Aude and her husband Guillaume Lavollée. The estate owns a remarkable heritage of plots spread between the Côte de Nuits, the Côte de Beaune, and the Côte Chalonnaise, with a philosophy based on respect for the soil and the expression of terroirs. Les Levrons is a climat located north of Puligny-Montrachet, at the foot of the slope, in an area known for the finesse of its Chardonnay. The estate cultivates a 0.35-hectare plot planted in 1988, benefiting from a southeast exposure. The terroir presents an interesting diversity, with relatively deep brown limestone soils rich in clay in the lower part, while the upper part of the plot becomes noticeably more stony and draining. This geological variation helps give the wine a particularly precise personality, where freshness and minerality take precedence over opulence. Les Levrons thus constitutes an elegant and refined interpretation of Puligny-Montrachet, capable of expressing remarkable depth despite its Village appellation classification.
The Puligny-Montrachet Les Levrons 2023 is made exclusively from Chardonnay, cultivated under certified organic farming since the 2018 vintage. The harvest is carried out manually, with particular attention paid to the maturity and integrity of the grapes. After a gentle crushing, the whole clusters are pressed to obtain precise juices, preserving the aromatic finesse of the grape variety. A light settling precedes fermentation in oak barrels, conducted without the addition of sulfur at this stage. The aging continues for twelve months in barrels, with a measured proportion of 10 to 15% new wood, then an additional six months in stainless steel tanks. This second phase allows refining the texture and preserving the natural freshness of the wine, which is then bottled without filtration. The 2023 vintage, marked in Burgundy by a beautiful maturity of the grapes and a generous harvest, brings a particularly seductive fruity expression, balanced by the natural tension of this limestone terroir.
The Puligny-Montrachet Les Levrons 2023 stands out with a fresh and expressive bouquet, dominated by lemon, citrus fruits, and white grape, accompanied by floral and delicately herbaceous nuances. Upon aeration, notes of thyme, verbena, and a subtle iodized dimension enrich this aromatic palette, revealing the full uniqueness of the plot. On the palate, the wine favors tension and precision, with an elegant body, less opulent than some Puligny-Montrachet, but remarkably persistent. The acidity brings constant energy to the tasting, while the texture acquired during barrel aging gives it enough depth and roundness. A pronounced minerality runs through the whole and leads to a long, saline, and iodized finish, particularly characteristic of this cuvée. The 2023 vintage thus combines the generosity of fruit with a freshness that should allow the wine to gain complexity over the coming years. It will ideally accompany oysters, seared scallops, turbot with beurre blanc, roasted lobster, or Bresse poultry with cream.
Grape variety: 100% Chardonnay
