Winemaker Notes
An excellent example of the true potential of the wines of Pouilly-Fuissé and a great introduction to the wines of Château Fuissé. The wine is rich and robust in the mouth, but retains it’s lean acidity and freshness throughout.
Professional Ratings
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Jasper Morris
This is a substantial cuvée of 120,000 bottles, made in barrel except for the schist and clay components. Overall, 60% is in wood, of which 25% is new. The wood element is taken out of barrel in the summer, kept on lees, then all assembled after the harvest without lees, and bottled in December. Clear mid yellow. There is useful tension here along with the flesh of a fine Pouilly-Fuissé in a good vintage.
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Vinous
The 2022 Pouilly-Fuissé Tête de Cuvée is raised 60% in oak barrels and the rest in tank, bottled at the end of 2023. This cuvée includes some Premier Crus, including Combettes, which were not bottled separately this year. It has a winsome nose with mint-tinged citrus fruit that opens with gusto in the glass. The palate is well-balanced with a fresh entry. It's spicy with stem ginger and lemongrass towards the lively finish. Maybe it is not the most refined Pouilly-Fuissé, but there is commendable energy in the context of the growing season.
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Wine Spectator
Shows breadth, with ample flesh wrapped around its peach, cantaloupe, grapefruit and baking spice flavors. Open and harmonious, offering intensity and oak spice echoes on the aftertaste. Drink now through 2028. 750 cases imported.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
The source of some of the most sought-after white wines of the Mâconnais, Pouilly-Fuissé is produced exclusively from the Chardonnay grape and tends to be slightly richer in style than wines from its northern neighbor, the Côte de Beaune—mainly due to warmer weather. Wines from Pouilly-Fuissé have some versatility; they can be enjoyed young and can also often improve with a little time in the cellar. Pouilly-Fuissé wines are considered some of the best values for white Burgundy.
Similar to the Côte de Beaune, the soils of Pouilly-Fuissé are mainly limestone and clay. The appellation includes the communes of Fuissé, Solutré (which includes Pouilly), Vergisson and Chaintré. The richest Chardonnay comes from Fuissé and Solutré-Pouilly, whereas the Chardonnay at higher elevation, from Vergisson, expresses more minerality and finesse. Pairing Pouilly-Fuissé with lobster or King Crab will bring great joy not only to your palate—but also your pocketbook!