Pouilly-Vinzelles Climat "Les Quarts" Zen AOC 2023 1500ml Magnum

A powerful, spice-driven Chardonnay with firm structure and very low sulphur, whose evolution in the glass can be followed in real time. Dry, 13.5% ABV.

The Les Quarts parcel in Pouilly-Vinzelles covers 0.69 hectares at around 250 metres of altitude, with soil of red clay and limestone. Particularly old vines and a later harvest date define this climat. La Soufrandière in Vinzelles now farms 12 hectares across Pouilly-Vinzelles, Pouilly-Fuissé and Saint-Véran. Jean-Philippe and Jean-Guillaume Bret took over the estate founded in 1947 by Jules Bret in 2000 and converted it to biodynamic viticulture; since 2010, Marc-Antoine Bret has also been working there. Part of the vineyards is worked with horses.

Chardonnay, farmed biodynamically. Whole-cluster pressing, spontaneous fermentation with the estate's own yeasts, followed by roughly 17 months of lees ageing. No added sulphur during fermentation and ageing, with only a minimal dosage at the unfiltered bottling.

The nose shows slightly oxidative notes of soft, mellow yellow apples and fully ripe pears, finely underpinned by mace, light tobacco and a touch of acacia in the upper register. The entry is gripping and powerful, with firm tannins giving it an austere contour. Aromatically, the spicy side takes over while the fruit recedes. The ripe acidity plays a nonchalant background role, carried by fine phenolics.

Organically certified by Ecocert since 2003, Demeter-certified for biodynamic viticulture since 2006; the Demeter logo appears on the label. The 1500 ml magnum lets the wine mature more slowly.