DOMAINE PHILIPPE CHAVY, France

The domaine now extends to just over 8 hectares, with some thirty individual parcels scattered throughout the neighbouring villages of Puligny Montrachet (from his father’s side of the family) and Meursault (through his maternal side). Soil is worked by ploughing; there is strictly no use of herbicides or insecticides and for several years, Philippe has followed the cycles of the lunar calendar when determining work in the vineyards and cellars. “[Philippe Chavy] has made great progress over the past two decades and is now in the forefront of Puligny domaines.” Remington Norman & Charles Taylor MW, The Great Domaines of Burgundy (3rd Edition).

Viticulture

Cultivating 8 hectares of vineyards scattered amongst around 30 plots across 14 appellations, Phillippe harvests Chardonnay, Aligoté, Pinot Noir and Gamay. All grapes are harvested by hand from old vines that are planted in narrow rows and takes 30 harvesters 10 days on average to pick. Phillippe refuses to use herbicides or insecticides wishing to preserve the environment, the terroir and the indigenous micro flora and coordinates tasks in the vineyard in accordance with the lunar cycle.

Winemaking

Each cuvée is vinified separately and link tradition with contemporary ideas: a number of years Phillippe invested in a pneumatic press which is ideal for gentle, slow pressing of the must. Similarly, the stainless steel, temperature-controlled tanks enable all the vibrance and freshness of the aromas to be retained during the alcoholic fermentation. The final phase of vinification and maturation is conducted in oak barrels of various ages and provenances. In this way, the wines express both their diversity and their complexity after 11 months of regular stirring of the lees.