Jean Chartron

Domaine Jean Chartron is located in Puligny-Montrachet, a classic name in the Côte de Beaune, Burgundy. The history of viticulture goes way back here and the domain itself was founded in 1859. The fifth generation is now working there.

The current owner, Jean-Michel Chartron, says that he is "more or less" specialized in making white wine. That's a bit too modest if you know that the domain owns plots in 22 white wine appellations, including four grands crus and eight prime crus. The white grape here is chardonnay, and it is all those differences in soils and conditions in the various plots that give their wines their specific character.

Jean-Michel uses no chemical pesticides on his total of 14 hectares of vineyards. Careful processing of the soil is his priority. After the manual harvest, a very calm, cool fermentation takes place in oak barrels, which lasts four to six months. Occasionally Jean-Michel stirs the yeast cells that have fallen to the bottom of the barrels through the wine, for a fuller taste. The process is completed with a barrel ripening. It leads to wines that are both broad and powerful, refined and complex.