Pouilly-Vinzelles Cuvée Zen AOC 2023

A white Burgundy that shows edges in its youth and thrives precisely on them. In the glass, a deep golden yellow with radiant highlights; the nose remains reductive at first and needs air. Then come yellow stone fruit and sun-warmed lemon, alongside dried summer flowers, espresso crema and a hint of icing sugar.

The grapes grow in the Les Quarts climat in Pouilly-Vinzelles, in the southern Mâconnais. There, La Soufrandière farms limestone soils with clay and loam inclusions that give the estate's Chardonnays minerality and freshness. The estate dates back to Jules Bret, who acquired one hectare in the Clos de Grand-Père in 1947. Since 2000, his grandsons Jean-Philippe and Jean-Guillaume Bret have run the estate, now spanning 12 hectares, with Marc-Antoine Bret joining in 2010.

Single-varietal Chardonnay from younger vines, farmed biodynamically. Hand-harvested, whole-cluster pressing, spontaneous fermentation. Ageing on the lees takes place partly in tank, partly in used barrels, with no sulphur addition during fermentation or ageing. Only at the unfiltered bottling stage is a minimal dose of sulphur added. 13.0% ABV, dry.

A very juicy attack with a gripping texture and swift drive. The ripe fruit stays within the citrus spectrum, driven by a ripe, slightly austere acidity. An invigorating bitter note gives the wine energy, while the fine, powdery phenolics keep the finish taut and dry.

Certified organic by Ecocert since 2003, La Soufrandière has carried the Demeter seal since 2006, whose logo appears on the label. The brothers work with preparations based on cow manure and quartz, observe cosmic rhythms, and cultivate part of the vineyards with a horse to keep soil compaction to a minimum.