Winemaker Notes
This wine is concentrated and very fruity while also being stylish and elegant. It displays its elegance, fruitiness, white fruits, and light citrus and is very persistent on the palate. Utterly clean, crisp, minerally and thirst-quenching, this is a perfect example of classic Pouilly-Fume. Made of 100% Sauvignon Blanc, Pouilly-Fume is the direct neighbor of Sancerre, typically with more clay in the soil but the same climate and riverside influences.
This wine is a marvelous match with shellfish, fish, white meats and goat cheese. For example, turbot with spinach and feta cheese or goat cheese with toasted sesame seeds.
Professional Ratings
-
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2022 Henri Bourgeois La Porte de l'Abbaye Pouilly-Fume is focused and a treat for the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers aromas and flavors of savory spices, dried herbs, and tart citrus. Pair it with Cantonese-style steamed rock cod with black bean sauce. (Tasted: July 5, 2023, San Francisco, CA)
The Famille Bourgeois has been in love with Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc for 11th generation. The domain covers 72 hectares on the best Terroir of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé appellations. Brought to fruition by Henri Bourgeois over 50 years ago, the vineyards lie on some of the most rugged hillside terrains, offering the best exposures in the Loire Valley. From cultivating two hectares on the slopes of Chavignol, Henri took the audacious step in the 1950s of developing his vineyards in an as yet unknown area. His sons, Jean-Marie and Rémi, joined him in the 1960s and continued the adventure. They discovered new terroirs, bought land, developed partnerships with other Sancerre families, and turned themselves into the #1 ambassador of Sancerre in France, then abroad.
Today, Arnaud, Lionel, and Jean-Christophe Bourgeois are just as much the heirs of those men as the initiators of the future of the vines and wines of the house. Though the family is forever striving to perfect their craft, they remain committed to Henri’s original viticultural vision of showcasing the purity of the Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir grapes and the unique Terroirs of Sancerre.
Famille Bourgeois has received numerous accolades over the years from press and public alike for all of their wines, ranging from their delightfully fresh & food-friendly "baby Sancerre" Petit Bourgeois wines to their age-worthy, terroir-driven Sancerre & Pouilly-Fumé cuvées.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
Famous in the Loire and throughout the world for perfumed Sauvignon blanc, Pouilly-Fume sits due east, across the Loire River from Sancerre. Limestone soils with clay and flint (also called silex) contribute to the wines' freshness and often times smoky, flinty, mineral character.