Pouilly-Vinzelles Climat “Les Quarts” Zen AOC 2022

Wine Description for Pouilly-Vinzelles Climat “Les Quarts” Zen AOC 2022 by La Soufrandière

Colour & Appearance

Luminous, pale golden yellow with crystalline clarity – a wine that promises precision and elegance from the very first glance.

Nose

The nose presents itself cool and focused: verbena, fresh mint and herbal citrus notes dominate the picture. A discreet waxy note lends depth without overwhelming. Less opulent than its sibling wine, instead taut and possessed of an almost meditative clarity – entirely befitting its “Zen” name.

Palate

On the palate, an well-balanced, juicy mouthfeel unfolds with aromas of citrus fruits, yellow stone fruits and a hint of stone fruit. The acidity is present and invigorating, building tension and propelling the wine forward with elegant drive. Not a gram of excess fat – everything feels purposeful and at rest within itself.

Finish

Long, saline-herbal and characterised by pure citrus fruit. A fine, almost tannic grip in the finale underscores the mineral backbone of this extraordinary Chardonnay. The finish lingers and lingers – leaving you hungry for more.

Terroir & Origin

Les Quarts ranks among the finest vineyard sites of the Pouilly-Vinzelles appellation. The south-east-facing vineyard rests on iron- and silica-rich clay and limestone soil of the Bajocian – a Jurassic subsoil that imparts this wine its characteristic minerality and tension.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Chardonnay from vines aged 48 to 80 years, hand-harvested in late August 2022. Whole-bunch pressing and spontaneous fermentation, followed by 17 months ageing in barrels and large wooden vessels with complete malolactic fermentation. Since 2008, the vineyard has been ploughed with horses – a commitment to artisanal precision and respect for the soil. With just 34 mg/l total sulphur, this is a remarkably natural wine.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Ideal with roasted chicken thighs with orange slices, fennel and anise, equally convincing with grilled bread with sardines, sweet onions and yellow tomatoes. For those who prefer the unconventional: eggs filled with miso mayonnaise and Aleppo chilli flakes – the wine’s saline minerality plays wonderfully here with the umami spice.

Special Features

The “Zen” cuvée is the leaner, citrus-fresher alter ego of the classic Les Quarts – less opulence, more precision. A wine for lovers of Burgundian austerity, proving that 2022 in the Mâconnais produced far more than mere sunshine: namely depth, tension and character.