2020 Batard Montrachet
Buying options
Tasting notes
Opulent in style, Paul Pernot’s Bâtard-Montrachet plays beautifully to the acid-rich backbone of the 2020s. The wine has lots of perfumed white floral aromatics mixed with mineral, earthy, clay aromas. There is an impressive spectrum of fruit flavours on show from citrus to yellow orchard fruit and white peach. The wine has great density and concentration. It is mouth-filling, rich and opulent, but this decadence is always counterpointed by an underlying tension and firmness on the palate. Additional spice and saline notes add complexity to the long finish.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2020 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is a rich and muscular wine evocative of orange oil, buttered toast, peach, confit citrus and baking spices. Full-bodied, layered and textural, with lively acids and chalky structuring extract, this has turned out very well and looks likely to equal or surpass the 2017 and 2019 renditions.
From the Chassagne side, which Michel Pernot thinks tends to produce the heavier wines. This certainly has power, a little bit less come hither than the Bâtard, with a little meatiness. It seems a bit more powerful in alcohol, has the same toast as the Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet, finishing with a suggestion of eau de vie de poire. On the chunky side. Tasted: October 2021
About the producer
Domaine Paul Pernot is synonymous with Puligny-Montrachet. For the last 30 years, the estate – alongside Domaine Leflaive and Domaine de Montille (previously Château de Puligny-Montrachet) – has been one of the largest shareholders in the appellation.