Château des Rontets - Pouilly-Fuissé Pierrefolle 2023

With its natural expression, Pierrefolle offers a character honed by its granite terroir. This savory, vibrant wine delivers radiant flavors and a very subtle finish.

Claire and Fabio Gazeau-Montrasi took over this historic family estate in 1995. Certified organic since 2005, it consists mainly of Chardonnay vineyards in Fuissé and a plot in Saint-Amour. All of the estate’s white wines undergo extended aging—nearly two years—which naturally refines and enriches them, resulting in greater complexity. The exposure and altitude have prevented the Pouilly-Fuissé wines from being classified as Premier Cru, though the discerning connoisseur will not be bothered by this. The quality and consistency of the latest vintages presented this year have earned the estate its second star.
The wines: a smooth, very flavorful body in the Saint-Amour, a sensual and crisp wine with beautiful intensity of fresh fruit. Finesse and aromatic complexity in the Clos Varambon: with its great intensity and lingering finish, this ripe, fresh, and caressing wine checks all the boxes. With a completely natural expression, Pierrefolle offers a character sharpened by its granite terroir. This savory and vibrant wine delivers radiant flavors and a very subtle finish. Les Birbettes adds an extra layer of refinement, with magnificent breadth that lingers long on the palate and unfolds with penetrating intensity on the finish, all with a wonderfully natural expression.

The 2022 Pouilly-Fuissé Pierrefolle is unique in that it comes from more granitic soils (similar to those in Beaujolais) and a slightly warmer microclimate. This results in a slightly more mineral, rather “airy” nose, with notes of citrus zest and linden blossom that emerge with aeration. The palate is taut and fresh, with impressive concentration and heightened acidity that gives the finish a real “edge.” Excellent.