Pouilly-Vinzelles Climat "Les Quarts" AOC 2020 1500ml Magnum
A profound, biodynamic Chardonnay from one of the finest vineyard sites in southern Burgundy. It combines cool minerality with taut acidity and impressive cellaring potential.
Bottler: Bret Brothers/La Soufrandière, 125 rue Aux Bourgeois, 71680 Vinzelles / France
In the glass
Colour
Pale gold
Nose
White blossoms, graphite and subtle wood spice, refined with oregano, lemon verbena, blanched almonds alongside green and yellow citrus fruits.
Palate
Powerful and firm on the palate, characterised by vibrant acidity, fine tannins, silky lees richness and a juicy fleshiness.
Character
Bright, crisp and remarkably fresh – a lively, age-worthy white wine with fascinating tension and precise structure.
Pairing
Monkfish cheek ceviche with yuzu, fennel risotto with smoked eel, or burrata salad with grapefruit and lemon-ginger oil.
Notes
Demeter-certified biodynamic viticulture from the prestigious single vineyard "Les Quarts", featuring vines up to 80 years old grown on iron-rich limestone-clay soils, bottled in a generous magnum.
Tasting note
Colour & Appearance
A bright, radiant gold-yellow in the glass.
Nose
For a southern Burgundy, the 2020 vintage presents itself as remarkably cool, bright and razor-sharp. The aromatic play opens with white flowers, fine pencil shavings, graphite and subtle oak notes. In between, herbal nuances of oregano and lemon verbena flash through, underpinned by blanched almonds as well as juicy yellow and green citrus fruits. An exceedingly clear, focused bouquet.
Palate
On the palate, it reveals the characteristic power of the Les Quarts site, paired with a gripping, intensely linear acidity. Fine tannin and a subtle fleshiness structure the body. Despite the complete malolactic fermentation, a citrusy, pleasantly tart energy dominates, perfectly interwoven with the silky texture from long lees ageing. Tension-filled, deep and textural.
Terroir & Origin
The south-east facing top vineyard Les Quarts is considered the prized jewel of Pouilly-Vinzelles. The 48 to 80-year-old Chardonnay vines root deeply in iron- and pebble-rich clay and limestone soils from the Bajocian stage. The brothers Jean-Philippe and Jean-Guillaume Bret farm their vineyards in Vinzelles strictly biodynamically (Demeter-certified) and work parts of the soil using horses.
Grape Variety & Vinification
Single-varietal Chardonnay, harvested by hand at the end of August. After whole-bunch pressing, spontaneous fermentation takes place with wild yeasts. Ageing extends over 17 months – initially eleven months in used pièces, followed by larger wooden casks (fudres). The wine is bottled unfiltered with only minimal sulphur added (40 mg/l added).
Food Pairings
Excellent with monkfish cheek ceviche with leche de tigre, yuzu and celery, creamy fennel risotto with smoked eel or a fresh salad with grapefruit, burrata, lemon-ginger oil and coriander seeds.
Particularities
In the impressive 1500ml Magnum bottle, this monumental biodynamic white wine possesses enormous ageing potential. The masterful balance of taut acidity, fine texture and mineral grip makes it a prime example of uncompromising natural winemaking in the Mâconnais.
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