The 2012 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatieres has a more subdued bouquet compared to the Meursault with simple flint and granite scents that need more conviction. The palate is nicely balanced with a citrus core of fruit, complemented by dried apricot and tangerine that both emerge on the delicate, feminine finish. This is a decent, understated Puligny-Montrachet for medium-term consumption.
I made a quick visit to Xavier Monnot’s winery, located next to his impressive grand maison tucked behind the church in the center of Meursault. The wines are branded under his own name in the United States, but elsewhere he adopts his grandfather’s title of Domaine Rene Monnier. A little like Yves Boyer-Martenot, Xavier’s present holdings have been inherited from his ancestors, with some parcels presently rented from his mother and sister, his father having passed away when he was a child. The domaine now farms around 17 hectares of vineyard in the Cote de Beaune. Xavier’s wines are well-crafted, perhaps not quite reaching the heights of its greatest exponents, but commercially savvy wines designed for mass appeal.