On 80-Year-Old Vines and Arresting Value in Burgundy: 2001 Paul Chapelle Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Hameau de Balagny

Posted by Ian McFadden

On 80-Year-Old Vines and Arresting Value
2001 Paul Chapelle Puligny-Montrachet
1er Cru Hameau de Blagny

It's hard not to get excited when you taste a wine like Chapelle's Hameau de Blagny.

That's why I get so excited when I discover a wine like Chapelle's 2001 Puligny 1er Cru Hameau de Blagny - a 1er Cru with age on it that costs less than what many current vintage village wines go for.

I'm happy to offer Chapelle's 2001 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Hameau de Blagny for $59.95 on bottles and $54.95 in 4-packs.

Domaine Paul Chapelle was founded in 1976. Chapelle had spent almost a decade consulting for the top names in Burgundy - Ramonet, Lafarge, de Montille, Pousse d’Or, etc. Today, his daughter, Christine Beck Chapelle, is at the helm. The domaine continues to turn out deeply mineral and classic White Burgundy while following the old fashioned practice of aging wines for extended periods before they're released. The 2001 Hameau de Blagny represents a really impressive release from their library.

Few, if any vintages from the early 2000s have blossomed the way 2001 has. They were intensely mineral and a little severe in their youth. Before long, the 2001s were eclipsed by the 2002, a much fleshier vintage. With time, 2001 has blossomed beautifully. It was always a purist's vintage, but over the years the 2001s have really filled out - deepening and gaining a vibrant finesse.

The 1er Cru Hameau de Blagny, which is situated close to the border with Meursault and the 1er Crus Truffières and La Garenne, is known for producing powerful, layered and seriously structured wines. Chapelle's 80+ year old vines only compound this.

The marriage between Hameau de Blagny and the 2001 vintage is really lovely. Chapelle really excels in delivering wines with real presence combined with a zingy core of citrus and minerals along with bright floral top notes. The result is something enveloping and lifted. It's in a very nice place right now.

This is the sort of offer that, if we're lucky, we're able to make a handful of times a year. You just don't come across 1er Crus with age, made with this much care, at sub-$60 very often.

To order, reply to offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.

Ian McFadden
Director, Fine & Rare Wine
Crush Wine & Spirits

2001 Paul Chapelle Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Hameau de Blagny

Special Email Bottle Price: $59.95

Special Email 4-Pack Price: $219.80 ($54.95/btl)