Château Fuissé : Pouilly-Fuissé Village "Les Combettes" 2019

Tasting Notes and Recommendations for Pouilly-Fuissé Village "Les Combettes" 2019 Château Fuissé

Tasting

Color

The wine displays a bright pale yellow hue, lifted by subtle greenish highlights that reflect the vintage’s well-preserved freshness.

Nose

The nose reveals a refined, complex aromatic profile, with delicate floral notes alongside ripe white fruit. The hallmark minerality of the limestone terroir shows through with intensity, enhanced by subtle hints of exotic fruits and red apples. A discreet touch of oak frames the whole without ever dominating it.

Palate

The attack is full and fresh, extending the floral impressions sensed on the nose. The opulent texture is perfectly balanced by a persistent, energetic minerality that brings definition and vibrancy. A remarkable bright acidity underpins the wine through an elegant finish where minerality remains the dominant feature, delivering excellent aromatic length.

Food and Wine Pairings

This Pouilly-Fuissé is an ideal match for white poultry such as chicken or turkey, especially when served with a creamy sauce. Noble shellfish such as lobster, spiny lobster, or king crab find an exceptional partner in its minerality. Delicate fish with a light sauce, smoked salmon, and creamy cheeses from Burgundy also make excellent pairings. This wine also pairs remarkably well with refined vegetarian dishes.

Serving and Cellaring

Pouilly-Fuissé Village "Les Combettes" 2019 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 10 and 12°C.

An outstanding Pouilly-Fuissé driven by the minerality of its limestone terroir

The estate

Founded in 1862, Château de Fuissé stands as a benchmark estate in the Mâconnais area of Burgundy. Owned by the Vincent family for five generations, the estate spans around 40 hectares across some one hundred parcels and five appellations, including 25 hectares devoted to Pouilly-Fuissé. Among its treasures are a 2.7-hectare monopole Clos surrounding the château and Les Brûlés, a south-facing monopole. Antoine Vincent has managed the estate and overseen winemaking since 2003, perpetuating the family’s tradition of excellence.

The vineyard

The Les Combettes parcel is a 1.3-hectare monopole of Château Fuissé, nestled in a small valley at the southern tip of the Côte de Fuissé. This exceptional Pouilly-Fuissé terroir is characterized by extremely stony, limestone-rich soils, composed of 80% Bajocian limestone dating back to the Jurassic period. This unique geological makeup, combined with a northeast exposure and optimal natural drainage, gives the wine its distinctive saline minerality and crystalline structure. The vines, some up to 40 years old, benefit from a deep root system that draws on the subsoil’s mineral richness.

The vintage

The year 2019 proved exceptional in Burgundy despite contrasting weather conditions. Spring frosts between April and May naturally limited yields, followed by intense drought and summer heat peaks exceeding 40°C. Paradoxically, these conditions favored remarkable grape concentration, with yields reduced by 30 to 40% compared to normal. The vintage stands out for concentrated wines with naturally preserved acidity, higher than in the 2018 vintage.

Winemaking and Aging

Pouilly-Fuissé Village "Les Combettes" 2019 is vinified with an approach that favors the expression of terroir. Aging takes place in oak barrels three to five years old, allowing gradual oxidation and beneficial lees contact while preserving the wine’s aromatic purity. This deliberate use of mid-aged barrels avoids any excessive oaky signature, letting the limestone minerality express itself fully. Hand harvesting and sustainable viticulture respectful of the terroir complete this quality-focused approach.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay