Puligny-Montrachet is considered the most prestigious white wine village in Burgundy and commands higher prices and greater prestige than neighboring Meursault and Chassagne-Montrachet. The village has 200ha vineyard land and is home to 17 Premier Crus and four Grand Crus – including the legendary Montrachet itself, shared with Chassagne – which set a global benchmark for Chardonnay. Puligny’s soils are especially prized for their balance of limestone and clay, producing wines of remarkable tension, precision, and minerality. While Meursault is often richer and Chassagne more robust, Puligny’s style is considered the most refined and classical. Puligny may not be your first port of call when you start getting into white Burgundy, but over time, collectors gravitate to this village as they increasingly seek precision and tension over plushness. With the prices of producers like Leflaive now being astronomical after they (thank god) finally settled their premox issues with Diam cork and other measures and Etienne Sauzet and Jacques Carillon following on their heels, the savvy consumer has been looking for Puligny producers that deliver in quality but at a lower price point: Enter Domaine Jean-Lous Chavy!
Domaine Jean-Louis Chavy is a family-run estate in the heart of Puligny-Montrachet with a heritage that dates back to 1820, spanning six generations. In 2002, Jean-Louis Chavy took over from his father Gérard, bringing a modern touch to the estate by constructing a new winery and acquiring additional parcels to enhance wine quality. The estate encompasses approximately 7 hectares of vineyards, exclusively planted with Chardonnay. These vineyards are situated in and around Puligny-Montrachet, benefiting from the region’s exceptional terroir characterized by clay-limestone soils. The domaine’s holdings include prestigious Premier Cru sites such as Les Folatières, Les Perrières, and Les Champs-Gains.
In 2020, Jean-Louis’s son, Paul Chavy, joined the family estate after completing his studies and gaining experience in viticulture and oenology. Paul has since launched his own négociant label, sourcing high-quality grapes to produce wines that complement the domaine’s offerings, I tasted these wines during the visit and I think Paul has a bright future ahead of him. I was especially take by his reds as well. How would I describe the the Chavy house style, both from Paul and the Domaine? I would say it centers on expressing the purity and precision of Puligny-Montrachet’s terroir. Elegant wines, that whisper don’t shout, striking a good balance between reductivness and richness, reflecting a commitment to meticulous vineyard management and thoughtful winemaking practices.
Oliver Künzler and Manuel Bauer from Les Cavistes with Paul Chavy – I joined their visit on a beautiful spring day in Puligny
Tasting Notes of Jean-Louis Chavy Domaine wines
2023 Jean-Louis Chavy Puligny-Montrachet – 92 Points
A discreet nose to start, but opens nicely in the glass with citrus blossom, hawthorn and a grassy top note. Elegant and finely drawn on the palate, very much in the Puligny idiom with its precision and delicacy.
2023 Jean-Louis Chavy Puligny-Montrachet Les Charmes – 91 Points
Interesting, there is also a village lieu-dit in Puligny called Charmes, not just the famous Meursault one. One never stops learning in Burgundy terroirs… More generous than the village cuvée, as expected from this site bordering Meursault. Yellow orchard fruits, a hint of creaminess on the mid-palate, yet still retaining Puligny lift. A softer, rounder take on the appellation.
2023 Jean-Louis Chavy Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Champs-Gain – 92+ Points
Fine-boned and linear, with light citrus and herbal notes, though a touch subdued at this stage. A cool site and a cool vintage expression, but might gain in weight with time in bottle.
2023 Jean-Louis Chavy Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Perrières – 93 Points
Here the minerality takes centre stage. Lemon, chalk and a twist of fresh parsley on the nose. Still a little tight-knit, but the tension and energy point to good potential.
2023 Jean-Louis Chavy Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Clavoillons – 93-94 Points
Elegant and refined, with a quiet charm. This is a graceful Clavoillon, offering subtle citrus, white flowers and a fine thread of acidity. Less overt power, more ballerina-like poise.
2023 Jean-Louis Chavy Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières – 94-95 Points
A beautifully complete wine. A whisper of gunflint and mint over ripe citrus fruit. Creamy yet finely etched, it manages to straddle richness and mineral tension with ease. A standout—generous, but never loses its Puligny identity.
Paul Chavy, leading us through the line-up of his and the Domaine wines
Tasting Notes of Paul Chavy Negoce wines
Whites
2023 Paul Chavy, Bourgogne Chardonnay – 89 points
From vineyards in Puligny and Meursault. A lifted nose of lime and yellow orchard fruit, with a light flinty reduction adding interest. Nicely judged palate, generous yet taut, showing impressive clarity and balance for its level.
2023 Paul Chavy, Saint-Romain La Perrière – 90 points
Fragrant and expressive, with notes of mint and light tropical fruit—touches of passion fruit and citrus zest. Soft, easygoing texture, this leans toward the gourmand side but remains charming and neatly proportioned.
2022 Paul Chavy, Pernand-Vergelesses ‘En Cardoux’ – 89 points
A brisker, more classical expression. Lime, white flowers and a cool herbal note on the nose. Linear, precise and focused, with a mineral streak. A wine made for shellfish or a plateau de fruits de mer.
2020 Paul Chavy, Saint-Aubin 1er Cru ‘Sur Gamay’ – 90 points
From a warm site delivering a nicely balanced wine – lime blossom, white peach, and a creamy texture on the palate. Generous and open-knit but finishes fresh and lifted. A smart 1er Cru from a sunny terroir.
2023 Paul Chavy, Chablis 1er Cru ‘Fourchaume’ – 90 points
No new oak and 14% alcohol, though you wouldn’t guess it. Crystalline and chiselled, with pure lime, fresh herbs and white stone. Persistent and clean, showing good typicity for Fourchaume’s riper site.
2023 Paul Chavy, Meursault AOC – 91 points
A blend of five lieux-dits. Broader and riper than the Puligny village wines, with lemon curd, yellow apple and a touch of bitter gourd adding grip. Still well balanced, with freshness to support the richer fruit profile. A classic Meursault in modern form.
Reds
2023 Paul Chavy, Aloxe-Corton AOC – 92-93 points
A striking surprise in the lineup, wow. Not at all the rustic style one might expect from Aloxe. Very floral, with bright red fruit and a lifted perfume. Silky tannins and elegant lines. A more delicate take that Pinot lovers will appreciate.
2023 Paul Chavy, Nuits-Saint-Georges ‘Les Damodes’ – 91 points
Carries the same lifted red fruit and finesse as the Aloxe, but with more grip and a darker register – licorice, black cherry, and a touch of spice. The structure is firmer and points to a wine that will reward a few years in bottle.
Author: Christian Raubach, WSET III, FWS, WSG Champagne Master
April, 2025