A biodynamically produced Chardonnay from 55-year-old vines, which authentically reflects the limestone terroir beneath the Roche de Vergisson with its clear freshness, saline minerality and delicate citrus fruit.
Bottler: Bret Brothers/La Soufrandière, 125 rue Aux Bourgeois, 71680 Vinzelles / France
In the glass
Colour
Pale golden yellow
Nose
Pastry with lemon curd, preserved lemons, green and yellow pears, alongside lanolin, lightly smoky notes and gently toasted hazelnuts
Palate
Juicy, bright and lively with agile acidity, tart-zesty citrus notes and a fine salinity that is wonderfully mouth-watering
Character
A very pure, crystal-clear expression of Pouilly-Fuissé without any affectation – ripe, fresh and of remarkable vibrancy
Pairing
Roasted yellow beetroot with pears and pistachios, langoustines with young garlic and lemongrass, or grilled oysters with hot sauce butter
Notes
From a mere 0.69-hectare, north-easterly facing plot at 250 metres’ altitude on reddish-brown clay over limestone; spontaneously fermented, aged for 17 months in used casks and bottled with only 21 mg/l total sulphur – Demeter-certified biodynamic
Tasting note
Colour & appearance
Pale golden yellow, clear and luminous in the glass.
Nose
A bouquet of rare detail: pastry with lemon curd, preserved lemons, green and yellow pears. Beneath these shimmer lanolin, a subtle smokiness and lightly toasted hazelnuts. Ripe, fresh and juicy all at once – a nose that rearranges itself with every swirl.
Palate
Juicy, bright and lively. An agile acidity carries tart, zesty citrus notes and a fine saltiness that makes the mouth water and keeps the reins taut. This is a pure, linear expression of Pouilly-Fuissé – without any affectation, yet with crystal-clear, radiant aromas.
Finish
Taut and saline on the finish, with a citrus freshness that lingers long and leaves the palate perfectly cleansed.
Terroir & origin
The Climat En Chatenay lies at 250 metres’ altitude below the Roche de Vergisson, facing north-east. The mere 0.69-hectare parcel – the Bret brothers share the vineyard site with the Comtes Lafon – rests on red-brown clay over limestone. The vines are 55 years old. Situated in the southern Mâconnais, Domaine La Soufrandière, with its vineyard sites in Pouilly-Vinzelles, Pouilly-Fuissé and Saint-Véran, ranks among the region’s quiet benchmarks.
Grape variety & vinification
Pure Chardonnay, hand-harvested on 2 September 2022. Whole-bunch pressing, spontaneous fermentation, then 17 months’ maturation – initially in used barrels, and after blending in neutral vats. Full malolactic fermentation; lightly sulphured only before bottling (21 mg/l total sulphur, pH 3.17).
Food recommendations
The taut acidity and saline freshness make this wine an ideal partner for langoustines “en buisson” with young garlic, lemongrass and lime or oysters with hot-sauce butter. It also pairs beautifully with roasted yellow beetroot with pears and pistachios.
Special features
The Bret brothers have been farming biodynamically (Demeter-certified) since 2006 – the Demeter logo adorns the label. The name “Zen” captures the essence of this wine: a Chardonnay of meditative clarity that reveals its origin without any disguise.
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