The top Louis Carillon offering is the Bienvenue Batard Montrachet. The 1995 is a terrific effort, exhibiting a deep, elegant and minerally nose. In the mouth, a racy, citrusy explosion of concentrated flavors of nuts and minerals cascades over the palate. This wine needs a half-dozen or more years to attain full maturity; it will last up to 10 years.
This note is the result of tastings I did in Burgundy between January 7 and January 29. Ratings with a range of scores in parentheses indicate the wine was tasted from cask, not bottle.
I've often felt that Domaine Louis Carillon made some of the most delicate Puligny Montrachets around. These are not fat, super-ripe wines like those of Etienne Sauzet, but are refined, elegant, and feminine. Wines from this estate generally need a few years for the fruit to emerge so I recommend cellaring the village offerings 3-4 years and the crus at least 5 years.
Importers: Neal Rosenthal, Select Vineyard, Shekomeko, NY; tel (800) 910-1990, and Vineyard Brands, Chester, VT; tel (802) 875-2139.