[Tasted during WSET Diploma – Unit 3 – Week 8: Burgundy]

If Chablis is the personification of pristine and pure Chardonnay that tastes of river stones and crisp fruit, with a balance of concentration and finesse that needs time to blossom, then Pouilly-Fuissé, at the other end of Burgundy, is a ballsier expression of quality white Burgundy.

More obvious fruit, here, with crushed pears and applesauce rather than freshly sliced green fruit, along with a vivacious touch of something Bed Bath & Beyond-esque, like a soapy lemon-lime candy. It’s the Black Swan to the White Swan we tried earlier in the flight. It’s just more willing to do MDMA on Sunday night but still have its shit together to do ballet the next morning.

Stylistically, this definitely has less composure than some examples of Pouilly-Fuissé, like Château Fuissé. Still some oak and cream notes but supported with a lot more fruit than I expected, along with a bit more angular acidity.

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med lemon, legs
Nose: clean, developing, med+ intensity, ripe green fruit, apple, applesauce, nuts, butter, oak, vanilla, hint smokiness, candied green apple, lemon, lime citrus, floral
Mouth: dry, med+ body, med+ intensity, high acid, med alcohol, med+ length, oak, butter, citrus, lemon, lime, green fruit, apple, applesauce, vanilla, savoury, nuts
All in all: Very good quality: acid is slightly disjointed but almost matches the flamboyant crushed applesauce aroma and flavour in this wine. The wine is complex with its numerous flavours of oak and apple, and the wine is quite intense on the palate. Can drink now, but has potential for ageing.

Producer: Château de Beauregard
Designation: “Sur La Roche”
Region: France
Sub-Region: Pouilly-Fuissé AOP, Mâconnais, Burgundy
Variety: Chardonnay
ABV: 13%
Vintage: 2012
Tasted: December 8, 2014
Price: $50