Alain inoculates for fermentation and believes in keeping bâtonnage to a minimum. He uses a combination of 400-liter oak puncheons and 25% new Burgundian pièce for the premier crus. “We’re looking for balance between the fruit and oak character,” explains Alain. “We want the wines’ minerality to show through.”

Les Folatières is the largest Puligny premier cru and one of the best known thanks to its size and the quality of its wines. Folatières sits high up on the hill above Clavoillons with meager soil. The result is a full-bodied wine with plenty of minerality and grip. This is Alain’s favorite Puligny-Montrachet premier cru.