Pouilly-Vinzelles Climat “Les Quarts” AOC 2021

The Les Quarts vineyard is undoubtedly one of the best terroirs in the Pouilly-Vinzelles appellation. The beautifully situated vineyard faces south-east and has 48 to 80-year-old Chardonnay vines on siliceous and above all ferruginous clay and limestone soil from the Bajocium . Since 2008, the vineyard has been ploughed by horse. Hand-harvested from 18 to 23 September 2021, whole bunch pressing and spontaneous fermentation, then ageing for 17 months first in barrels and vats for eleven months and then in vats with 100-%iger malolactic fermentation. The total sulphur is 34 mg/l. The pH value is bi 3.22.

light golden yellow

With the 2021 Les Quarts a Chardonnay enters the stage whose intensity on the palate can hardly be guessed at on the nose. But this is typical of the wines from Pouilly-Vinzelles, which are always somewhat more restrained than those from Saint-Véran or Pouilly-Fuissé. The wine is reminiscent of dried mint, verbena and violet dried flowers, as well as some tree bark, which meets notes of ripe lemon and lemon peel. All this, however, remains fine, finessed and almost seems a little intellectual.

On the palate, the wine opens up. Here it shows its power and depth much more bluntly. It has white and yellow fleshy fruit as well as citric notes, some tannin and a distinct acidity that provides tension. The Bret brothers read to the point, so that the citrusy tartness combines with the silky of the yeast ageing, the tannin and a clear saltiness and minerality to form a very successful whole.