POUILLY-FUISSÉ > BOUCHARD Ainé & Fils

POUILLY-FUISSÉ 2021

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2023 2024

Varietal

100% Chardonnay.

Tasting notes

Colour: Elegant and bright gold with green hues.
Nose: Fine, mineral bouquet with flowery, vegetal undertones enhanced by a honey note.
Palate: A pure, fine yet rich and luscious wine, with nuances of hazelnuts and grilled almonds.

Food and wine pairing

The perfect accompaniment for shellfish, quenelles, fish, frogs' legs, white meats in a cream sauce, whitebait, poached poultry, sweetbreads...

Serving suggestions

Serving temperature: 10 to 12°C / 52°F.

Ageing potential

3 to 8 years.

Origins

The Pouilly-Fuissé appellation is situated in the south of the Maconnais’ vineyards. It spreads across the villages of Fuissé, Solutré-Pouilly, Vergisson, and Chaintré.

As soon as the incline increases, in the south of Mâcon, around the renowned rocks of Vergisson and Solutré, the vineyard of Pouilly-Fuissé, on clay-limestone soil from the Jurassic era, entirely covers the abrupt hills on little parcels of steep slopes. The harvest is of approximately 40 000 hl for 761 hectares of vines.

On banks of crinoidal limestone, the vineyard lies on the sides and at the base of the rocks on gravelly scree and clay-limestone soils dating back to the Jurassic period. Note also the clay soils on a granitic bedrock in the westernmost part of the appellation.

Steep incline/Eastern, south-eastern exposure/Altitude of 200 m to 350 m.

Vinification and maturing

The grapes are gently pressed to extract the highest quality juice possible. The resulting must is placed in a temperature-controlled vat for settling (12 to 24 hours). This settling operation is crucial in our quest for aromatic purity. The must is then racked and placed in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats (16-18°C) for alcoholic fermentation. Ageing in stainless steel vats on lees (80%) and in oak barrels (20%) for 8 to 10 months.

Vintage : 2021

The 2021 vintage was a challenge for winegrowers right up until the very last day. From the frost in April, made worse by a very early start to the winegrowing season, right through to the September harvest, it was characterized by some brutal shifts in the weather. Winegrowers had to be extremely reactive and attentive. The only moment of respite came with flowering, which was ideal for fruit formation, and véraison, which was accompanied by sunshine from mid-August. In the end, hard work was rewarded with success, low volumes aside.

Aside from the low yields due to frost, and hail in June in certain parts of the Mâconnais, the grapes were sorted meticulously, both in the vines and in the winery.

Anyway, 2021 is an interesting vintage to work as it requires great technical skill and vinification must be very precise. Although fermentation was rapid, one had to pay a great deal of attention to the extraction of tannins and colour for the reds, and to the aromatic balance of the whites. The impression from the first tastings is that the musts have good aromatic potential and the sugar-acidity ratio suggests a style appreciated by fans of Bourgogne wines.