Terroir Insight: Domaine Faiveley Batard-Montrachet

Domaine Faiveley seems to have gotten quite a “bargain” in acquiring the Jean-Pierre Monnot estate in 2008. It added to its already impressive roster of vineyards a strong presence in Puligny-Montrachet – including village Puligny and the 1ers crus Les Referts, Champ Gain, and La Garenne.

Even more prominently, important plots in grands crus Batard-Montrachet and Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet supplemented Faiveley’s beautiful parcels of Corton-Charlemagne.

The Batard-Montrachet is perhaps the top wine in the white Faiveley portfolio, although it is a close race among the three big grands crus.

So let’s take a look at the Faiveley Bâtard-Montrachet – history, plots and the full monty.

I like Faiveley whites

I have really come to enjoy the Faiveley whites, with their controlled yet vivid fruit. They have a fine hedonistic balance without going overboard in a hippie, organic-wine style. The oak is balanced and permits or sustains fine energy and tension in the wines.

Faiveley’s Batard-Montrachet parcel was planted in 1985 and 1997. It is the youngest of the domaine’s three grand cru vineyards – just coming of age. The Corton is an old Faiveley property, acquired in 1874 and planted in 1933, 1935, 1987 and 1988, with a bit subsequently in 2010.