As we discussed in our last post about Burgundy, you’ve got to understand the vineyards in order to understand the wines.
In fact, some might argue your curiosity about the vineyard should be the reason you want to try the wine!
Vineyard rankings in Burgundy make all the difference when it comes to price, and the sites marked as Grand Cru or Premier Cru are the most expensive of all due to their unique geographical climates—the terroir—that lends the wines their unique character.
In the Fall of 2020, one of Burgundy’s smaller Chardonnay appellations—Pouilly Fuissé—saw the addition of 22 new Premier Cru vineyard sites to a region known for quality wines, making them the first newly-ranked parcels added since the 1940s. For Burgundy lovers in the know, it was a distinction long overdue as some of these famous sites have created impeccable wines of precision and grace for decades.
For others, the accolades brought the end of a carefully-guarded secret: some of the best French Chardonnays that could still be had for a reasonable price!
That being said, just because you know the region doesn’t mean you know the vineyards, and that’s where we come in at Mission! As fans of Domaine Carrette for years, we’re well aware of their vineyard locations, pretty much at the foot of the famous rock of Solutré (pictured above) in the heart of the region—and the best wine from the newly-crowned Premier Cru vineyard of “Pouilly.”
For those who want to understand fine Burgundian Chardonnay without spending $100+ per bottle, we’ve got the bottle for you.
2022 Domaine Carrette 1er Cru “Pouilly” Pouilly-Fuisse $41.99
The 2022 vintage of Domaine Carrette 1er Cru “Pouilly” marks the first we’ve seen with the new classification and it’s one of the best we’ve tasted. The richness of the older vines comes through on the palate with buttered bread and baked apples imparting their presence from just a touch of oak maturation. The body of the wine is imposing and it’s well-suited for those who like a more powerful Chardonnay. It’s a clear distinction from the standard Pouilly-Fuissé and a big win for those who understood the greater potential of this vineyard site.