Winemaker Notes
The “Vers Cras” vineyard is located in the hamlet of Pouilly in the heart of the Pouilly-Fuissé appellation. The soil is fine, white limestone with excellent drainage. The average age of the vines is 65 years. After a manual harvest, the grapes are gently pressed and then racked into tonneaux for both the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations. The wine is then aged for an additional year on the fine lees in small barrels before bottling. This cuvée is notable for its clear expression of the chalk of its soil combined with a powerful presence on the palate.
Professional Ratings
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Jasper Morris
Grown on the Pouilly side of the vineyard. Pale in colour. This comes across as riper in fruit, less marine, very expressive. A little more chiselled on the palate though, again with the ripe citrus wash over the stones. Rating: (90-92)
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!