Heritiers du Comte Lafon Pouilly-Fuisse 2021
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This wine has fresh citrus fruit aromas, an unctuous structure on the palate with great elegance and concentration, and a long, sea-spray finish.
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Typically the Pouilly-Fuissé is a single-vineyard wine from the lieu-dit En Chatenay in Fuissé, but in 2021 fruit had to be sourced elsewhere as well. Despite the changes to the blend, this remains one of the top wines in the cellar (along with the Milly-Lamartine Clos du Four), boasting ripe pear and quince fruit with a suggestion of hawthorn flowers, marzipan, and mineral. The weight on the palate is dense, with balanced acidity and plenty of extract. This is a classic Pouilly-Fuissé, done in a Côte d’Or style, lovely for drinking now or mid-term cellaring.
Early on, he strived to preserve the fruit and minerality of the region by using only larger, neutral wood for the aging of the wines. His belief and passion for the region has made Héritiers a towering beacon for fine wine in the previously overlooked Chardonnay mecca. In 2006, he appointed longtime apprentice Caroline Gon as head winemaker of the domaine. Under her tireless and inspired leadership, the gospel of quality Maconnais is spreading far and wide, with a clear and definitive voice.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
The source of some of the most sought-after white wines of the Mâconnais, Pouilly-Fuissé is produced exclusively from the Chardonnay grape and tends to be slightly richer in style than wines from its northern neighbor, the Côte de Beaune—mainly due to warmer weather. Wines from Pouilly-Fuissé have some versatility; they can be enjoyed young and can also often improve with a little time in the cellar. Pouilly-Fuissé wines are considered some of the best values for white Burgundy.
Similar to the Côte de Beaune, the soils of Pouilly-Fuissé are mainly limestone and clay. The appellation includes the communes of Fuissé, Solutré (which includes Pouilly), Vergisson and Chaintré. The richest Chardonnay comes from Fuissé and Solutré-Pouilly, whereas the Chardonnay at higher elevation, from Vergisson, expresses more minerality and finesse. Pairing Pouilly-Fuissé with lobster or King Crab will bring great joy not only to your palate—but also your pocketbook!