Bottler: Bret Brothers/La Soufrandière, 125 rue Aux Bourgeois, 71680 Vinzelles / France
In the glass
Colour
Pale golden yellow with fresh, youthful luminosity
Nose
Citrus fruits, verbena and mint to the fore, complemented by subtle waxy notes and hints of ripe stone fruit
Palate
Juicy and coating with citrus, stone fruit and yellow kernel fruit; vibrant, pressurised acidity; saline, herbal finish with pure citrus fruit and a light tannin
Character
Composed and balanced – taut, citric style with mineral tension and great inner composure; a Chardonnay of precision and depth
Pairing
Roasted chicken with fennel and orange, grilled sardines with tomatoes, devilled eggs with miso mayonnaise
Notes
Old vines (48–80 years) on iron-rich Bajocian limestone; horse ploughing since 2008; whole bunch pressing, spontaneous fermentation, 17 months maturation in barrels and large wooden vessels; 100% malolactic fermentation; low total sulphur (34 mg/l)
Tasting note
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.
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