Blain-Gagnard Puligny-Montrachet 2021

Domaine Blain-Gagnard was formed when Jean-Marc Blain married Claudine Gagnard, daughter of Jacques and Josèphe Gagnard and granddaughter of Edmond Delagrange, resulting in a union steeped in Burgundian heritage. This husband-and-wife team run the Domaine, now with the help of their son Marc-Antonin, who has returned to France after spending time in the vineyards of Australia and New Zealand.

Jean-Marc employs great intricacy in his winemaking: subtle tweaks to the process such as his discerning selection of coopers and the wood they use, and mixing wines from vines of different ages help create a series of excellent wines. Jean-Marc uses around 15% new barrels for his premier cru and lesser wines, while the grand crus are afforded 30% new Alliers oak. The wines tend to be highly concentrated and in quite limited supply: the combination of the older vines with the younger forms of wines that are rich and strong but subtle enough to not be overpowering.