Pouilly-Vinzelles Climat „Les Quarts“ AOC 2020 1500ml Magnum

Wine Description for Pouilly-Vinzelles Climat „Les Quarts“ AOC 2020 1500ml Magnum by La Soufrandière

Colour & Appearance

Luminous, pale golden yellow with brilliant clarity – a wine that already signals precision and freshness in the glass.

Nose

Remarkably bright and multi-layered for a southern Burgundy from the warm vintage 2020: white flowers and blanched almonds open the bouquet, followed by a characteristic hint of graphite and pencil shavings, promising mineral depth. These are joined by verbena, a touch of oregano and vibrant notes of yellow and green citrus fruit. The aromatics feel precise, clear and refreshing – reminiscent rather of the elegant 2017 than of the fuller-bodied vintages in between.

Palate

On the palate, Les Quarts reveals its full character strength: powerful and firmly structured, with a fine, almost tannic grip and a forceful, intense acidity that provides considerable tension. The citric-herbal character combines elegantly with the silky texture of the lees ageing and a subtle, pleasant fleshiness. Despite complete malolactic fermentation, the wine remains remarkably taut and lively.

Finish

Long, saline-mineral and carried by fine citrus bitterness – a finish that unmistakably reflects its origin from iron and silica-rich limestone soil and invites the next sip.

Terroir & Origin

Les Quarts ranks among the finest vineyard sites of the Pouilly-Vinzelles appellation in southern Burgundy. The south-east-facing vineyard sits on Bajocian limestone and clay soil with high iron and silica content – a terroir that produces wines of remarkable longevity and balance.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Chardonnay from vines aged 48 to 80 years. Hand-harvested at the end of August 2020, whole-bunch pressing and spontaneous fermentation. Aged for 17 months – initially eleven months in pièces, then in large wooden vats – with 100% malolactic fermentation. Sulphur addition kept moderate at 40 mg/l. In the 1.5-litre magnum, this wine matures particularly slowly and harmoniously.

Food Pairing Suggestions

The wine’s lively acidity and mineral precision make it ideal for ambitious cuisine: ceviche of monkfish cheeks with leche de tigre, yuzu and celery, fennel risotto with smoked eel or a fresh salad with grapefruit, burrata, lemon-ginger oil and coriander seeds.

Special Features

The magnum bottling underscores the ageing potential of this exceptional terroir wine. Those with patience will be rewarded with even greater complexity – five to ten further years of cellar ageing are easily conceivable.