Vineyards and winemaking
This Pouilly-Fuissé brings together Chardonnay from clay-limestone parcels around Solutré-Pouilly. The slopes' varied exposures and shallow calcareous soils build natural richness and a mineral counterpoint into the fruit.
After pneumatic pressing, the juice is settled for around twelve hours before fermentation, mainly in stainless steel with a portion in barrel. Full malolactic fermentation softens the acidity, and nine months in oak casks adds texture and complexity while preserving the wine's clarity.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Bright gold with a subtle green glint at the rim.
Nose
Ripe lemon, pear and white peach are followed by honey, fresh almond and a measured touch of buttered oak.
Palate
Silky and rounded, with generous orchard fruit balanced by citrus freshness and a cool mineral undertone. Almond and light honey emerge through the middle, finishing long, smooth and finely lifted.
Food pairing
Pair with lobster thermidor, roast chicken and morels, baked brill with a chive beurre blanc, or a mature Comté. The wine also has enough freshness to accompany a creamy smoked-haddock gratin.
Background story
Domaine de Pouilly is based in Solutré-Pouilly at the heart of the Mâconnais. Brothers Vincent and Pierre-Antoine Besson represent the family's fifth generation of winegrowers, following a line that began with their grandfather Pétrus in 1933.
The domaine covers approximately 20 hectares across numerous parcels in Pouilly-Fuissé and neighbouring appellations. Many vines are more than 50 years old, and the brothers combine sustainable cultivation with close personal oversight from vineyard to bottle. This 2023 is the domaine's classic expression of Pouilly-Fuissé, combining the appellation's generous Chardonnay fruit with the freshness and drinkability that define the Besson brothers' wines.
