Opulent. Excepting the famous towns surrounding Montrachet, the richest and most luxurious white Burgundies come from Pouilly-Fuissé. Grown an hour to the south of the Côte d’Or in the Maconnais, the wines of Pouilly-Fuissé show Chardonnay’s soft and opulent side. When carelessly made, Pouilly-Fuissé can be heavy and flat; but from a careful producer it can be a revelation.
If you’ve had Nicolas Maillet’s Macon Villages or Macon Verzé, you won’t be surprised to hear that his Pouilly-Fuissé is a delight. Sporting the same astonishing purity and complexity as his unoaked cuvées, Maillet’s Pouilly-Fuissé adds careful notes of oak and toast to the elegant Chardonnay fruit. His organically farmed vines there average 75 years old, resulting in exceptional density and richness.
Luxury. This wine is a beautiful example of careful use of oak. The nose shows white flowers and attractive, bright yellow fruit. The mouth perfectly balances richness from old vines and barrel with a chalky minerality and bright Chardonnay freshness. It’s extremely long in the mouth, showing opulent depth and luxurious richness.
The wines of our now-retired Pouilly-Fuissé producer Michel Forest used to fool people into thinking they were premier cru Chassagne-Montrachet (at a blind tasting by sommeliers at a 3-star Michelin, no less). We put Maillet’s Pouilly-Fuissé in the same class. For those readers (like us) who miss Michel Forest’s elegant old wines, or for fans of classic white Burgundy anticipating the Fall — this is a wine not to miss.
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Maillet Pouilly-Fuissé 2014
Ansonia Retail: $40
6+ bottle price : $34/bot
FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING ON ANY 12 BOTTLES
