Benoît Ente comes from a vigneron family (he is the younger brother of Arnaud Ente in Meursault). In 1997, at about 30 years of age, Benoît left the shared family domaine to establish his eponymous estate, taking over roughly 4 hectares of vineyards in Puligny-Montrachet that had belonged to his grandparents. (Previously, these vines were leased out to other growers – Benoît's move marked the first time they were vinified under his own label.) Starting essentially from scratch, Benoît focused on improving viticulture parcel by parcel. Over the past two decades he has gradually built a loyal following for his wines, which have become increasingly sought-after as word of their quality spread. The domaine remains very much a family operation – Benoît and his wife Coralie manage everything from vineyard to sales. Although production is limited (often fewer than 1,500 cases a year in total), Benoît Ente is now regarded as a leading micro-estate in Puligny. His philosophy emphasizes humility and continual improvement; as he once quipped, "I'm not a star, just a farmer who wants to make honest wine." Today, with top critics singing his praises, Benoît Ente's wines occupy a cult status, yet he stays focused on the fundamentals: healthy vines, precise winemaking, and letting Puligny's terroir shine.