2012 Francois Carillon Puligny Montrachet

Carillon had opened the doors of his cellar to help the malos of his 2012s finish, particularly the very late Puligny-Montrachet Les Referts. Carillon particularly likes the fat and generosity of the 2012s, as well as their class. Crop levels were down dramatically in certain sites owing to hail, and Carillon told me he cut back on lees-stirring because he did not want to get a vegetal character in his wines. Carillon noted that he has generally higher vines with more vegetation than his brother Jacques has, and that he makes less austere wines-- ‘wines more for pleasure, to share with friends.’ He told me he had generally less damage from hail and was not burned by heat spikes as he keeps a wider ‘vegetation zone’ on his vines and got good sugar levels in his grapes.

2012 Puligny-Montrachet Villages I tasted three different cuvées, one recently sulfited, then an approximate blend: Aromas of ripe orange, peach and spices. Silky and lush but with good underlying structure and citric verve to its apricot,

kumquat and spice flavors. Fruity, sweet and nicely done. 87-89  Stephen Tanzers International Wine Cellar