The origins of the Clerc estate, originally located on the main square in Puligny-Montrachet, date back to the 16th century. Since the retirement of Bernard Clerc in mid- 2002, Vincent Girardin is in charge of the vineyards and winemaking. The wines are now made and aged at Girardin’s state of the art facility near Meursault. The Clerc estate of 11 hectares of vineyards is centered in Puligny-Montrachet, including 3 Grands Crus. Girardin and his team harvest entirely by hand and meticulously sort all the grapes to eliminate unhealthy fruit. They are immediately pressed in a pneumatic press to retain maximum fruit and aromatic extraction. The must is kept in tanks at low temperatures for 7 days before transferal to oak barrels (of which one third are new) for alcoholic fermentation and maturing. Bottling takes place after about 11 months for the Bourgogne Chardonnay and the AOC Puligny and 13 months for the Premier and Grand Crus. The traditional Clerc label has been modernized and is now as elegant and sophisticated as the wines.

The sensational Bourgogne Blanc Les Riaux is about as good as generic white Burgundy gets. The fruit comes from a block called “Les Riaux” which is situated just below the Puligny AOC vineyard, between the village and the Route Nationale. The wines offer all the characteristics that have made the Clerc white Burgundies so famous: rich body and texture fine pear and tropical fruit flavors, and a persistent finish. It is a most versatile Chardonnay, complementing grilled fish and seafood, and can be very useful for holiday entertaining. The Clerc Bourgogne Blanc represents outstanding value and is a fine introduction to the house style.

The Puligny-Montrachet AOC of Domaine Clerc is exceptionally full bodied for a village wine. It has lots of intensity balanced with a lively acidity the French would call “nervosite.” The flavor is pure Puligny, with notes of crisp tropical and pear fruit and the finish is enjoyably long.

The Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatieres is a wine of tremendous richness and breed and complexity. It is full on the palate, with pleasing richness and verve. Flavors of white peach, ripe pear, quince and spice are integrated with notes of vanilla from the new oak and minerals. It is ready to enjoy with festive preparations of veal, fowl, lobster, sea scallops and salmon.

Situated higher on the slope, Clerc’s parcel of Puligny-Montrachet Les Combettes 1er Cru comes from 35 year old vines. It offers very vivid fruit aromas of citrus and pear nuanced with minerals and oak. Elegant, racy and powerful, this is a classic Puligny.

Clerc’s Bienvenues Batard Montrachet Grand Cru drinks beautifully now; is the most forward of the Grands Crus. This is a pillowy wine, which envelopes the palate with layers of richness. Flavors of lanolin, honey and peach, mixed with nuances of oak, gives this wine its Grand Cru breed and finesse.

The majestic Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru comes from 25 year-old vines. It is always the most structured of the Clerc wines, taking at least 5 years to show its richness and complexity. Lush flavors of nutty, honeyed, and spicy fruit will appear, making this wine a perfect match with rich dishes such as veal with morrilles or salmon en croute.