Tasting with Jacques Carillon is always a pleasure. These are bellwether wines for any given vintage. They always give you an insight into what is possible from a specific year, such is the crystalline purity of the wines. I’m not sure there is anyone who consistently makes better village Puligny than Jacques, and his Bienvenues is one of the greatest wines of Burgundy. The 2020 will certainly be vying for white wine of the vintage honours for mine. We thank Jacques for his true generosity and time he spends with us each year. His 2020’s from bottle and 2021’s from barrel were splendid.
2020 Domaine Jacques Carillon Puligny-Montrachet: Grapefruit, white peach and wisteria. Classic Puligny finesse and balance. Fresh and detailed, so moreish.
2020 Domaine Jacques Carillon Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Champs Canet: Light florals and mineral complexity. Already open but such finesse. Silky texture and a long finish of poise and elegance.
2020 Domaine Jacques Carillon Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Perrières: Intense white peach fruit. The palate oozes minerality and has great shape. There’s strict line and fabulous length of flavour.
2020 Domaine Jacques Carillon Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Referts: White peach, aniseed and flint. Complex and layered with sneaky power. Quite chalky on the long finish. It is all here just waiting to blossom with bottle age.
2020 Domaine Jacques Carillon Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet, Grand Cru: Delicate but so complex and intense. There are notes of citrus, chalk, white peach and blossom. It has wonderful presence in the mouth and squint inducing acidity. Balance is supreme, with every sip being a delight. The finish is insanely long. Close to perfection.
2021 Domaine Jacques Carillon Puligny-Montrachet: Fresh, lemon, lime and grapefruit notes for now. Tight and lean.
2020 Domaine Jacques Carillon Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Champs Canet: There’s white peach with a touch of spice. It has a cool feel with a light stoniness to the fine finish.
2021 Domaine Jacques Carillon Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Perrières: Lovely balance. Fresh orchard fruits trimmed with mineral flavour. There’s a fruit sweet heart, nice proportion and some bitter citrus rind freshness to the finish.
2021 Domaine Jacques Carillon Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Referts: Complex but fine. Mineral structure, crisp fruits and some aniseed spice. Lively finish, very persistent.
2021 Domaine Jacques Carillon Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet, Grand Cru: Very fine, very citrus. It slowly builds through the palate, supported by a rigid spine of grapefruit and chalk. So contained yet regal and giving just a glimpse of what is to come.