Burgundy is full of family dynasties large and small, so while its physical landscape doesn’t change, its wine landscape is always in flux. This is not just a vintage-to-vintage thing, but a generation-to-generation thing; the constant, of course, is the vineyard land. So, while there’s nothing new about the Puligny-Montrachet lieu-dit (named site) called “Les Tremblots,” this stunning 2016 from Domaine Albert Joly will be an exciting discovery for many.
If you like Coche-Dury, Arnaud Ente, and Hubert Lamy, this wine will be your new best friend. In a nutshell, it’s as good as Puligny-Montrachet gets, and it comes to us from a new-generation vintner, Sylvie Prevot-Joly, who only began “estate-bottling” wines from her family’s vines in 2007. Wine importers the world over are forever combing the streets of Burgundy for tiny, impeccable producers like this one—the under-the-radar talents that make you feel like you just discovered fire. Not to wear my biases on my sleeve, but tasting this ’16 was not just a master class in classic, high-toned Puligny-Montrachet character but a reminder of why great white Burgundy has no peer. The star-bright energy, the minerality, and the creamy texture are all there, courtesy of the Joly family’s 60-year-old vines. I can’t come up with enough superlatives for this wine, and unfortunately, I couldn’t come up with many bottles, either: We can offer up to six bottles per customer until our allocation disappears. Those passionate about white Burgundy should look no further!