Winemaker Notes
Le Clos is extraordinarily rich with layer upon layer of ripe apple, pair, and spice. The finish is driven by mineral with a firm gripping acidity.
Professional Ratings
-
Decanter
A luscious, multi-layered explosion of mouthwatering blood orange, fresh mineral, baked apple and juicy stone fruit; creamy, opulent and textured with a smoky, nutty, toasty oak core, fine fresh acidity and a luxurious, complex finish.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Pouilly-Fuissé Le Clos is showing superbly, unfurling in the glass with aromas of honeycomb, mandarin, confit lemon and citrus zest that are deftly framed by a light touch of new oak. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, broad and satiny, with a deep and multidimensional core, lively acids and a long, saline finish. It's the finest rendition of this bottling for several years.
-
Wine Enthusiast
This smoky, wood-aged wine comes from a walled vineyard next to the Château de Fuissé. Produced from old vines, it has concentrated apple and pear flavors, a touch of spice as well as acidity. The generous, opulent character will allow it to age. Drink from 2022.
-
Wine Spectator
Offering a mix of peach, melon and lemon curd flavors wrapped in toasty oak, this white also boasts a creamy texture. A beam of acidity at the core drives the lingering aftertaste. Starts out rich and finishes long and clean. Drink now through 2025.
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!