The overall verdict of the 2009 Pouilly-Fuisses is they are ready for drinking much earlier as their fruit is higher and acidity lower. This means you don't have to buy them and stick them in your cellar for 5 years!
The verdicts of the panel of tasters were interesting; one even saying, "I didn't know there were so many Pouilly-Fuissés on the market - it was a shock" ! Out of this also came the criticism that the variation in quality is huge.
Further to this, stylistically speaking, Pouilly-Fuissé can range vastly. Another tasting panellist said "Pouilly-Fuissé can be oaky, fruit driven or mineral. How the consumer works out what's what, I'm not sure".
Well I'm sure! There is one very easy solution to this, come to a good independent wine merchant, I'm sure I've seen one around here somewhere....!
This is exactly what we do! We do all the hard work of tasting through 100s of different Pouilly-Fuissés to pick the best quality in a range of styles. This way you know that when you come to our shops or buy online from us, we know whereof we speak because we have tasted and approved all the wines on our shelves. We also give clear tasting notes telling you whether a wine is unoaked and minerally or oaked and fruity... or somewhere in the middle!
I know it is often joked that it must be a hard job going to trade tastings and tasting through 100s of wines.... well, yes actually it can be! Although it is is also good fun, I won't deny it! Doing it you realise just how many bland, look-a-like wines there are out there, as indeed the Decanter team also found. Once you've tasted your 50th look-a-like wine the novelty soon wears off!
But the joy of the job is finding those wines that stand out. The wines that actually have character and a quality all of their own. These are the wines we look for and stock on our shelves.
For many years now we have stocked a range of Pouilly-Fuissés from a lovely producer called Domaine des Gerbeaux. Its consistency and quality is excellent, something that is often said to be lacking in many Pouilly-Fuisse estates, and indeed consistency was commented on in the Decanter tasting.
What is especially pleasing is that in this Decanter tasting Domaine des Gerbeaux won 2 Four Stars - Highly Recommended and a trio of Three Stars - Recommended. For one producer to win so many accolades in one tasting against a lot of other wines and producers shows an excellent level of quality and consistency.
The estate is run by husband and wife team Jean-Michel and Beatrice Drouin. They create Maconnais wines that wouldn't be out of place in the Cotes de Beaune. Jean-Michel works with tiny enamel vats to maxmise the contact with the lees.
The wines are superb and Jean-Michel is in the envious position of knowing that every bottle is sold before it is bottled.
If you would like to buy some of their excellent wines, please follow the link to our Domaine des Gerbeaux page.
Blog written by: John Martin
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