Description

Information:

Originally from Montreal, Patrick Piuze’s wine journey started when he was just 18 and met Marc Chapoutier. The great Rhône luminary obviously made an impression on young Patrick, because after working briefly in a wine bar in Canada he took the personal gamble to de-camp to Burgundy to pursue his passion for wine-making (in 2000). Piuze managed to land a position at Olivier Leflaive and worked also at Verget, before his own micro négociant business in Chablis in 2008.

Patrick Piuze is passionate about Chablis’ special terroir and sources grapes from the best terroirs and the most meticulous growers. Patrick Piuze’s knowledge of Chablis’ terroirs runs deep, and his wines are pure expressions of Chardonnay. He is widely praised for achieving a balance between Chablis’ characteristic minerality and Chardonnay’s fleshy fruit.

Premier Cru Vaulorent is located on the edge of the Grand Cur Preuses, the most powerful of the 7 Grand Crus. The climatic condition is very similar to that of Fourchame. The soil is mainly composed of calcareous and clayey marl, which enhances the fertility and the structure of the ground itself. Vaulorent was not classified as Grand Cru for a purely political issue, but today it is considered one of the best premier cru together with Fourchame. It covers 17 hectares.

Description:
Outer quote mark Elegant and ripe yet cool aromas include those of a blend of white orchard fruit, spice, citrus confit and a hint of seaweed character. The utterly delicious bigger-bodied flavors brim with sappy dry extract that adds a sense of power to the sappy and palate coating finish that offers notably better depth and persistence. The Butteaux is quite good but the Vaulorent is at another level.  Inner quote mark (10/2023)

Outer quote mark Aromas of pear, freshly baked bread, iodine and hazelnuts preface the 2022 Chablis 1er Cru Vaulorent, a medium to full-bodied, ample and layered wine that's richer and more unctuous than normal, reflecting the warmth of the vintage. If it tightens up with some time in bottle, it will make my score look conservative. hand-harvested grapes are pressed firmly in old Vaslin presses, their juice fermented in used barrels and stainless steel, with sur lie élevage of comparatively short duration, because Piuze wishes to capture the maximum of freshness and energy by early bottling. The resulting wines are elegantly textural but incisive, clearly differentiated by site. This is also the best address to explore the village-level Chablis AOC, as Piuze produces a number of cuvées and lieu-dit bottlings designed to highlight the diversity that this large appellation encompasses. (WK)  Inner quote mark (9/2023)