Domaine Robert-Denogent, Pouilly-Fuisse La Croix, Vieilles Vignes, Burgundy, France, 2017

Overview of the Wine
When first tasting the wines of Domaine Robert-Denogent, it is essential to put aside any preconceived notions about the young, over-cropped whites of southern Burgundy. These are wines of a much different class, whose reflection of terroir is one more likely found farther north in the prestigious Côte d’Or. Jean-Jacques Robert took over five hectares of his grandfather’s vines in the Mâconnais just outside the village of Fuissé after finishing law school in 1988. Though most of the harvest had always been sold off to the cooperatives, the small parcels that made up the domaine were already understood to enjoy unique microclimates, producing Pouilly-Fuissés of great pedigree. Jean-Jacques soon came under the influence of two ardent defenders of terroir, the great master of Morgon, Marcel Lapierre, and American importer, Kermit Lynch. Little by little, Jean-Jacques has introduced radical changes to the domaine (while staying faithful to his grandfather’s wisdom about the complexity of the land), finally realizing its full potential. He is now joined by his son, Nicolas.

The Roberts’ individual vineyard parcels are planted with old vines (remarkably so!) on varied soils of granite, schist, limestone, clay, and gravel. Naturally reduced yields imbue the grapes with terrific concentration. The wines undergo a long, slow élévage in barrel that lasts anywhere from fifteen to eighteen months. They are bottled after two winters in barrel, a treatment more common (yet still far from the norm) in the Côte d’Or, and something that really sets them apart in the Mâconnais. At a fraction of the price of the appellations of Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet, to which they are often compared by aficionados and critics alike, the wines of Robert-Denogent offer tremendous value, wonderful richness, and impressive complexity. An added attraction for some—they age sooner than their counterparts to the north.

Biodynamic.

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Grape / Blend
Chardonnay

Origin
Burgundy, France

Tasting Notes
The vineyard La Croix is unique in the Mâconnais for its schist soils, a sort of black sheep in an appellation composed nearly entirely of  clay and limestone. Scorned by other local vignerons, La Croix is one of Nico and Antoine Robert’s most prized parcels. They liken it to certain sites in the Jura more than to any other Burgundian terroir. And indeed, the ripe Chardonnay fruit is decisively lean and wiry, finishing on a crunchy note of salted butterscotch you might associate with whites from the likes of Ganevat or Rousset-Martin. The brothers raised this 2017 for three years in a combination of vessels including used barrels, concrete tanks, and amphorae, capturing the best of all worlds.

94 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The fabulous 2017 Pouilly-Fuissé La Croix Vieilles Vignes wafts from the glass with aromas of yellow orchard fruit, warm bread, vanilla pod, citrus zest and spices. Full-bodied, satiny and layered, it's deep and concentrated, with lively acids and long, saline finish. It's produced from blue schist soils.

Product size:  750ml