2018 Pouilly Fuisse

Domaine la Soufrandise is in Fuissé. They have seven hectares of vineyards (six in Pouilly-Fuissé and one in Macon-Fuissé) spread over 30 different parcels on limestone-clay, over half of which are more than 45 years old. This provides multiple options for blending this flagship Pouilly-Fuissé Vieilles Vignes. The grapes are harvested by hand, relatively late. The grapes were gently pressed using a pneumatic press to retain the delicate aromatics. The must was transferred to a mix of stainless-steel tanks and oak barrels, 50% of which were new. Fermentation took place using only indigenous yeast and the wine went through malolactic conversion. Aged in tank and oak for 10–11 months, with occasional bâtonnage. The wine was fined using bentonite and bottled in August following harvest. Deep gold. Quite evolved nose and fruit already with quite marked acidity – more marked than on the Clos Marie 2019. I'd drink this now. (JR)