2019 Chateau Fuissé Pouilly-Fuisse “Le Clos” Téte de Cru, Burgundy, France
ABOUT THIS WINE
Planted between 1947 and 2017, a little more than 70 years separate the youngest vines from the oldest. The average age is 40 years. You might like to know that one of the oldest plots used in this cuvée (Les Vernays, planted in 1955) is the source of the massal selection made by the domaine.
Within this one cuvée you can find a snapshot of Fuissé's geologicla complexity. A third of the vines are grown on west-facing granit soil - a mixture of schists, volcanic sedimentary sands and rhyolitic tuff - the remainder, wich face east, are mostly planted on limestone and Jurassic marls, but there are also some deposits of clay.
Exceptionally on this vintage, the cuvée was, because of its exceptional concentration vinified with a proportion of cask more important than usual. (80% of casks including 25% new casks). Vinification, then ageing 10 months in barrels, then another 6 months in vats to perfect its cladding. The bottling on 11 January 2021 was accompanied by the rare snowflakes of the year.
ABOUT THIS PRODUCER
Domaine Ferret has played a key role in defining the quality of the region. It was the first domaine in Pouilly-Fuissé to begin bottling on the estate, shortly after the Second World War. Further, its long-standing focus on vinifying each parcel of vines separately has allowed for the identification of the top terroirs. The Domaine Ferret portfolio falls into three tiers: Classic, Têtes de Cru and Cuvée Hors-Classe. The Tête de Cru and Hors-Classe parcels that have been identified are a precursor to the stratification of the appellation system (which is currently under consideration by the Institut National des Appellations d’Origine). As in the Côte d’Or, the wines in each range reflect their particular terroir, and these top cuvées are produced only in great vintages.
Domaine Ferret’s estate vineyards are comprised of 18 hectares throughout the Pouilly-Fuissé appellation; 14 of these are located in the amphitheater of hills surrounding the town of Fuissé and 4 are near the Roche de Vergisson, in the north of the appellation. These terroirs and the relatively low yields, allow the production of exceptional cuvées. The vineyards are managed sustainably with an aim toward an even more rigorous respect for environmental concerns.