2012 Maison Valette Pouilly-Fuissé Le Clos Reyssié Vieilles Vignes

WINEMAKER: Philippe Valette
REGION: Burgundy, FR
VARIETAL: Chardonnay
VITICULTURE: Organic/Biodynamic

"OK, a wine I hold my breath for each vintage! We have have not been able to get it these past years. The elevage here was 1o years in barrels, topped up four times a year - Le Clos Reyssié (East facing vineyard 65 year old vines) in itself represents the pinnacle of Pouilly Fuissé and as I mentioned in introduction, this is a work of art. The nose is explosive with varied oxidative notes showing curry, candied citrus, saffron and salted butter caramel! The mouthfeel is ample and very complex, with a graceful fluidity. Finally phenomenal length, beautiful tension and lovely balance. A wine to savour and one that will keep. Special." - Andrew Guard 

The domain was created in 1977, when Gérard Valette was one of the first in the area to leave the local cooperative and start bottling his own wine. After completing wine training, son Philippe joined in 1990 and then decided to convert the family's vineyards to organic farming, using biodynamic methods since 1992. The Valette's are known for their specific style, wines raised with thorough lees-contact and without racking. They have remained true to this style of winemaking since the 1950s. It is a sort of family-tradition that requires accuracy as well as painstaking detail knowledge of the indigenous yeasts and the wine’s proneness to develop reductive flavors. Again, an art.