Domaine Patrick Piuze is a recently founded but highly rated négociant business in Chablis, Burgundy, producing wines from numerous quality levels with the local and ubiquitous Chardonnay grape. Patrick Piuze was born in Quebec, Canada, but from the age of 18 (and after a chance meeting with Marc Chapoutier in Banff ski resort) travelled around the world working in vineyards in Australia, South Africa, and Israel. After a couple of years owning and running a wine bar in Montreal, he travelled to France and began a winemaking career, which included making Chablis for Olivier Leflaive and stints at Maison Verget and Jean-Marc Brocard.
Chablis combines the crystal clear fruit of Chardonnay with pure minerality and racy freshness. The aroma, which is clearly characterized by the Kimmeridge limestone soil, often shows notes of flint, green apples, and citrus fruits in youth and is increasingly nutty-smoky enriched with further storage. Butteaux is located in a side valley on the left bank of the Serein at the southwestern end of the 1er Cru Montmain.
A very Chablis-like nose features notes of mineral reduction, pear, apple, shellfish, and a plethora of citrus elements. The succulent and round yet decidedly powerful medium-bodied flavours exhibit borderline painful intensity before culminating in a very dry, firm, and austere finale. Patience is strongly suggested.