Domaine Merlin : Pouilly-Fuissé 1er cru "Les Chevrières" 2022

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru "Les Chevrières" 2022 Domaine Merlin

Tasting notes

Colour
Exceptionally clear, the colour reveals a pale gold hue enhanced by delicate green tints and a beautiful crystalline brightness.

Nose
Complex and structured, the bouquet opens with aromas of white flowers such as acacia and honeysuckle. It then reveals notes of stone fruit, candied lemon and fresh citrus, all underpinned by an elegant minerality reminiscent of chalk and gunflint.

Palate
The attack is crisp, carried by a lovely natural acidity. The mid-palate offers a creamy texture and a seductive roundness, balanced by a mineral and saline tension. The finish, remarkably long, lingers on subtle touches of butter, hazelnut and dried flowers.

Food and wine pairing

This white wine pairs wonderfully with delicate fish such as turbot or cod, shellfish, as well as white meats like roast poultry. It also pairs very well with vegetable risotto, fresh goat cheeses, or Asian dishes with mild and spicy flavours.

Service and storage

To fully appreciate the complexity of the Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru "Les Chevrières" 2022, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 10 and 12°C. This wine can be enjoyed young to savour its vibrant freshness, or cellared for a few years to allow its aromas to develop further.

Other characteristics

This is a dry white wine from France, distinguished by its elegant profile and remarkable purity.

The pure and mineral expression of a great white Burgundy by Domaine Merlin

The estate

Founded in 1987 by Olivier and Corinne Merlin following the takeover of a historic property, Domaine Merlin is located in La Roche-Vineuse, at the heart of southern Burgundy. Today, the founders, gradually joined by their sons Paul and Théo, oversee an eight-hectare vineyard. Recognised as one of the most respected producers in the Mâconnais, the estate stands out for its pioneering, uncertified ecological approach. The family philosophy is rooted in balance, purity and harmony, giving rise to remarkably high-quality wines that faithfully express their terroir.

The vineyard

The 0.65-hectare plot dedicated to this Pouilly-Fuissé benefits from an ideal west-facing exposure within the Climat des Chevrières, in the commune of Chaintré. Planted in the 1950s, these old vines flourish on a 15% slope at an altitude ranging from 210 to 250 metres. The terroir is characterised by clay-limestone soils rich in iron oxide, giving the wine its distinctive minerality. The vineyard is farmed using ecological methods, with manual soil work and constant attention paid to biodiversity.

The vintage

2022 stood out for its remarkable warmth and particularly favourable weather conditions. After an ideal flowering, welcome rains at the end of June helped avoid overly severe water stress during the dry, windy summer. A slight slowdown in ripening in August preserved the berries' natural acidity, before fresh rainfall came to cool the vines. The harvest took place in dry weather, yielding grapes of superior quality and optimal ripeness.

Winemaking and aging

The hand-harvested grapes are whole-bunch pressed to preserve the finesse of the aromas. After a light, natural settling in stainless steel tanks, alcoholic and malolactic fermentation of the Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru "Les Chevrières" 2022 takes place in oak barrels. The wine is then aged on fine lees for eighteen months, using a proportion of new barrels along with one- to three-year-old barrels. Finally, it is lightly filtered but not fined before bottling.

Grape variety

Chardonnay