2021 Pouilly-Fuissé, Domaine Gaillard, Burgundy
About this WINE
Domaine Gaillard
Pouilly-Fuissé
Pouilly-Fuissé is the most distinguished wine appellation in the Mâconnais, making rich, full-bodied white Burgundy from Chardonnay in four communes: Chaintré, Fuissé, Solutré-Pouilly and Vergisson. There is a move afoot to consider classifying individual vineyard sites.
Since arriving in the Mâconnais in 1987, Olivier and Corinne Merlin have become among the region’s most respected producers. After 10 years, they began buying Pouilly-Fuissé grapes, and now make three different cuvées each vintage.Pouilly-Fuissé should not be confused with Pouilly-Fumé or Pouilly-sur-Loire in the Loire Valley that produce wines from Sauvignon Blanc.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is often seen as the king of white wine grapes and one of the most widely planted in the world It is suited to a wide variety of soils, though it excels in soils with a high limestone content as found in Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte D`Or.
Burgundy is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich, honeyed wines with marvellous poise, elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs.
It is quantitatively important in California and Australia, is widely planted in Chile and South Africa, and is the second most widely planted grape in New Zealand. In warm climates Chardonnay has a tendency to develop very high sugar levels during the final stages of ripening and this can occur at the expense of acidity. Late picking is a common problem and can result in blowsy and flabby wines that lack structure and definition.
Recently in the New World, we have seen a move towards more elegant, better- balanced and less oak-driven Chardonnays, and this is to be welcomed.
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Description
Domaine Gaillard is a name to watch in the Mâconnais. Romain Gaillard returned to his family estate to take over from his father in 2015. Much of the estate’s production was sold as grapes or juice to famous names, but Romain has decided to start bottling more himself. Eighty percent of this is from Vergisson, with the balance from Solutré. The former gives freshness and minerality, the latter fruit and richness. Seventy percent is made and aged in tank, the rest in barrel. The nose has a pleasing, herbal freshness on top of generous, peachy fruit. The palate is initially creamy and rounded, filling out in the middle. It is then cinched in by a keen thread of acidity and chalky minerals. This is an excellent value white Burgundy that punches above its weight.
Drink now to 2030
Adam Bruntlett, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (May 2023)
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