J.-A. Ferret : Pouilly-Fuissé 1er cru "Les Ménétrières" 2022

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Pouilly-Fuissé 1er cru "Les Ménétrières" 2022 from J.-A. Ferret

Tasting

Color

The wine displays a pale golden hue with bright highlights.

Nose

The bouquet opens with delicate floral notes of honeysuckle and verbena, accompanied by herbal touches of lemon balm. Aromas of candied citrus and white fruits mingle harmoniously with hints of quince. With aeration, the nose evolves toward more indulgent scents of warm brioche, acacia honey, and toasted bread.

Palate

The attack reveals a texture that is both creamy and taut, carried by abundant minerality. The medium-bodied palate expresses itself with a pronounced acidity that brings freshness and vibrancy. The wine’s remarkable density extends into an exceptionally long finish, with fine mineral persistence and a subtly juicy texture.

Food and wine pairings

This Pouilly-Fuissé 1er cru pairs beautifully with tempura frog legs with black garlic cream. It also matches wonderfully with sole meunière, grilled lobster, or sea bass. On the meat side, it elevates a foie gras terrine or a Bresse chicken with porcini mushrooms. For a cheese pairing, opt for Vacherin Mont d'Or, Saint-Marcellin, or Saint-Maure.

Serving and cellaring

The Pouilly-Fuissé 1er cru "Les Ménétrières" 2022 is ideally served from the bottle at a temperature of 12°C. This wine can be enjoyed from around 2025, will reach its peak between around 2027 and 2037, and can be cellared until around 2042 and beyond.

An outstanding Pouilly-Fuissé 1er cru with an assertive Mâconnais character

The estate

Founded in 1840 when Jean-Antoine Ferret acquired his first plot in Fuissé, Domaine J.-A. Ferret now spans 18 hectares of vines, including 8 hectares in the Pouilly-Fuissé appellation, in the heart of the Mâconnais in Burgundy. Owned by Maison Louis Jadot since 2008 and led by Clément Robinet since 2023, this estate stands out for its pioneering spirit: the first in the appellation to bottle at the estate and the initiator of parcel-by-parcel vinification in the 1950s under the impetus of Jeanne Ferret. Mainly cultivating Chardonnay using traditional, environmentally respectful methods, J.-A. Ferret has established itself as the essential ambassador for Pouilly-Fuissé wines.

The vineyard

This Pouilly-Fuissé cuvée comes from a small 80-are plot located just outside the village of Fuissé, on the opposite slope of Mont Pouilly, mid-slope. Facing east, the vines were planted in three successive plantings between 1974 and 1999, offering a fine diversity of vine ages. The soil is characterized by deep, non-stony silty-clay earth derived from residual clays. At depth, there are limestone and marly-limestone beds, while the upper part, very limestone-rich and not rocky, comes from light Dogger marls.

The vintage

The 2022 vintage proved warmer than the norm established over the 1991-2020 period. Winter and spring were marked by a water deficit coming out of winter, followed by a frost episode in early April that slowed growth without causing major damage in the south of the Mâconnais. Vegetation grew rapidly in May. June was characterized by extreme heat accompanied by hail, particularly affecting Vergisson. From July 4 to August 13, hot and dry conditions prevailed. Harvest began on August 22 and took place over ten days. Optimum ripeness was achieved, with yields higher than in 2021, bringing relief after the previous year’s shortage. The vintage profile is balanced and charming.

Winemaking and aging

The Pouilly-Fuissé 1er cru "Les Ménétrières" 2022 underwent fermentation and a first aging of 10 months in oak barrels, with a split of 25% new wood and 75% barrels that had held one to three wines. This was followed by extended aging of 9 months in stainless-steel tanks on total lees, allowing the wine to develop complexity and texture. Bottling was carried out in April 2024.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay