Pouilly-Fuissé Climat 1er Cru "Au Vignerais" AOC 2022

A Chardonnay with real drive: sensuous on the nose, yet powerful and citrusy at the same time. Ripe yellow citrus and salted lemon lead, followed by lanolin, crème fraîche and biscuit. The colour is an intensely bright, pale golden yellow.

The Bret brothers own 0.49 hectares in the Climat Au Vignerais. The plot sits on the south-facing slope of the Roche de Solutré at 310 metres, on ferrous red clay and Bajocian limestone. The Domaine La Soufrandière in Vinzelles dates back to Jules Bret, who acquired one hectare in the Clos de Grand-Père in 1947. Since 2000, Jean-Philippe and Jean-Guillaume Bret have run the estate biodynamically, joined by Marc-Antoine in 2010; Ecocert-certified since 2003, Demeter since 2006.

Pure Chardonnay from 35-year-old vines, hand-harvested on 27 August 2022. Whole-cluster pressing, spontaneous fermentation, followed by 17 months' ageing in barrels aged seven to 18 years, with complete malolactic fermentation. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, pH 3.50, total sulphur 37 mg/l.

Creamy texture paired with a vibrant tension on the tip of the tongue. The lemon notes come across as both fresh and creamy, underpinned by chalky and iodine-like accents. The wine has depth and length while remaining perfectly balanced.

Dim sum with prawns, coriander, spring onion and roasted chilli, pork belly dim sum with pointed cabbage or white-tea-smoked tofu with wild broccoli and carrots.

A single 0.49-hectare parcel farmed biodynamically; the vineyards are partly worked with horses to avoid compacting the soil. The label carries the Demeter logo. 13.0% vol., dry.