Patrick Piuze Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons Les Minots 2020

Melinots is a Premier Cru vineyard within the larger, better-known, "flag-bearing" or "umbrella" Premier Cru of Vaillons, just to the southeast of Chablis town. Wines from this vineyard are rarely commercialised under the "Mélinots" or "Minots" label with most producers either blending it with other Vaillons wines and/or calling it simply "Vaillons".

Mélinots - or "Minots" as it is often referred to by local vignerons - sits at the southern end of the southeast facing slopes of the valley which are almost exclusively given over to the production of Vaillons. It sits under the better-known Beugnons climat and is neighboured to the northeast by the similarly low-lying Roncieres.

Despite its global success, Chardonnay as a grape is relatively neutral and it is not considered an aromatic variety. Indeed, it is often dubbed "the winemaker's grape", for it is in the winery that many of its defining characters are amplified or reduced. Made in a variety of styles, Chardonnay wines can show fruit notes that run from citrusy and mineral to exotic and toasty.

At its most basic, Chardonnay produces wines of a light golden hue, with notes of citrus, green apple, blossom and almonds or oatmeal. On the palate, Chardonnay has moderate acidity and moderate alcohol with a medium body. Climate, as well as viticulture and winemaking, play a major role in the aromas and flavors of the resulting wine.