Vineyards and winemaking
The Sauvignon Blanc comes from Domaine Guyon-Barillot's mature vineyards in Pouilly-Fumé, with vines ranging from approximately 40 to 70 years old. Limestone and flint soils give the fruit a firm mineral line and the lightly smoky character traditionally associated with the appellation.
Fermentation takes place between 15°C and 20°C in temperature-controlled stainless steel to retain aromatic precision. After an initial racking, the wine is carefully prepared for bottling between spring and late summer, capturing the freshness and expressive fruit of the 2023 vintage.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Brilliant pale gold with a fine green tint.
Nose
Lemon, grapefruit and redcurrant meet white peach, passionfruit and melon. Acacia blossom, quince and a quiet hazelnut note add detail.
Palate
Clear-cut and mineral, with a gentle opening that builds into rounded citrus and stone fruit. Harmonious acidity, a touch of flint and a subtle nutty note carry the poised, lingering finish.
Food pairing
Pair with roast cod and samphire, trout with toasted almonds, chicken in a lemon and crème fraîche sauce, or a warm goat's-cheese and beetroot salad. It also makes a precise, refreshing aperitif.
Background story
Domaine Guyon-Barillot traces its history to 1770 and now encompasses approximately 11 hectares in Pouilly-Fumé. Frédéric Barillot and his wife Elisabeth have regrouped ancestral parcels and modernised the cellar while preserving the continuity of a family property spanning more than 250 years.
The domaine was an early local adopter of temperature-controlled stainless steel and now also uses egg-shaped tanks for selected lots. This combination of old vines and precise cellar work gives the 2023 its attractive balance of immediate fruit, flinty definition and fine-dining versatility.
