The sleepy town of Puligny-Montrachet can lay claim to being the spiritual home of Chardonnay, being host or part host (some overlap into neighboring Chassagne) to four Grand Cru vineyards and 23 Premier Cru vineyards. Chardonnay can reach an extra-ordinary level of ripeness and concentration from the Grand Cru vineyards, and none more so than Le Montrachet. These rare and highly expensive wines have set the benchmark for power, intensity, finesse, and longevity that so many New World Chardonnays have aimed to emulate in spirit.

Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru is a more affordable, though increasingly pricey proposition. The style of wine will vary but it will generally have more minerality and taut citrus character than richer wines from neighboring Chassagne. The bulk of the appellation produces Village wine which can be of excellent quality from good producers and disappointing from lesser negociants and producers. (Wine/Appellations)