Les Perrières
lay peh-RYAIR
A stony Puligny-Montrachet premier cru where ancient quarries left behind soils that produce wines of striking minerality and precision.
Les Perrières is a 4.5-hectare premier cru in Puligny-Montrachet producing mineral-driven Chardonnay of exceptional finesse. The vineyard takes its name from the limestone quarries that once occupied the site, pierre being the French word for stone. South-easterly exposure and limestone-clay marl soils define its character.
- Located in Puligny-Montrachet, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy
- Classified as Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru
- Total area of 4.5 hectares (11 acres)
- Planted exclusively with Chardonnay
- South-easterly aspect with limestone-clay marl soils
- Name derives from 'perrière,' meaning stone quarry in French
- Notable producers include Etienne Sauzet, Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey, and the Carillon family
Location and Classification
Les Perrières sits within the commune of Puligny-Montrachet on the Côte de Beaune, one of the most celebrated white wine communes in all of Burgundy. Classified as a premier cru under the Puligny-Montrachet appellation, it covers just 4.5 hectares, making it a relatively intimate site even by Burgundian standards. The vineyard benefits from a south-easterly exposure that provides morning sun and good ripening conditions across the growing season.
- Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru classification
- 4.5 hectares total area
- South-easterly aspect for reliable sun exposure
- Situated in the Côte de Beaune, Burgundy
Name and History
The name Les Perrières carries its history literally in the language. Perrière derives from pierre, the French word for stone, and refers to the limestone quarries that once operated on this site. These quarries shaped the land before viticulture took hold, and the stony, mineral-rich soils that remain are a direct legacy of that geological past. This etymology is common across Burgundy, where vineyard names frequently reflect the physical character of the land or its former use.
- Perrière means stone quarry in French
- Pierre is the French word for stone
- Former quarry activity shaped the current soil profile
- Vineyard name reflects Burgundy's tradition of descriptive site naming
Soils and Terroir
The soils at Les Perrières consist of a limestone-clay marl mix with a notably stony character. This combination of active limestone and clay is well-suited to Chardonnay, providing good drainage through the stony portions while the clay fraction retains enough moisture to sustain the vines through drier periods. The limestone content contributes directly to the mineral signature that defines wines from this site, giving them a taut, precise quality that distinguishes them within the Puligny-Montrachet lineup.
- Limestone-clay marl with stony texture
- Good drainage supported by stone content
- Limestone drives the mineral character in the wine
- Clay fraction provides moisture retention
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Les Perrières produces white wines exclusively from Chardonnay, in keeping with Puligny-Montrachet's profile as one of Burgundy's defining white wine communes. The wines are known for their minerality and freshness, with an elegance that reflects both the premier cru classification and the particular terroir of the site. The stony soils impart a distinctive flinty or chalky mineral note, while the south-easterly exposure supports aromatic precision and good natural acidity. These are wines built for medium to long-term cellaring.
- 100% Chardonnay
- Mineral-driven with notable freshness and elegance
- Flinty, stony mineral notes from limestone soils
- Well-suited to medium to long-term aging
Notable Producers
Several respected domaines hold parcels in Les Perrières, and the site has attracted some of Burgundy's most meticulous white wine producers. The Carillon family, represented through François Carillon, Jacques Carillon, and Louis Carillon et Fils, has long-standing connections to the vineyard. Etienne Sauzet, one of Puligny-Montrachet's most celebrated estates, produces a benchmark example. Henri Boillot and Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey bring contrasting modern and traditional styles, while Jean-Louis Chavy and Domaine Philippe Pernot-Belicard round out a strong producer roster.
- Etienne Sauzet produces one of the appellation's benchmark examples
- The Carillon family has multiple representation through several domaines
- Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey brings a precise, modern approach
- Henri Boillot is another well-regarded name from the site
Pale gold with green highlights; aromatically precise with white peach, citrus blossom, and hazelnut; the palate is taut and mineral-driven with a chalky, stony texture, bright acidity, and a long, clean finish with notes of lemon curd and wet stone.
- Etienne Sauzet Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Perrières$120-160Benchmark Puligny producer; Les Perrières shows the site's mineral precision at its most refined.Find →
- François Carillon Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Perrières$90-130Family with deep Puligny roots; this bottling reliably expresses the stony, fresh character of the site.Find →
- Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Perrières$100-150Highly sought-after producer known for precise, terroir-transparent white Burgundy across multiple appellations.Find →
- Henri Boillot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Perrières$85-120Consistently elegant producer in Puligny-Montrachet; Les Perrières shows good minerality and structure.Find →
- Les Perrières is a premier cru within Puligny-Montrachet, Côte de Beaune; not to be confused with same-named sites in other communes
- Name derives from perrière (stone quarry); pierre means stone in French, reflecting the site's pre-viticultural use
- Soils are limestone-clay marl with a stony texture, driving the mineral character in the wine
- South-easterly aspect; 4.5 hectares total; planted exclusively with Chardonnay
- Key producers: Etienne Sauzet, Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey, François Carillon, Jacques Carillon, Henri Boillot