Mâcon Fuissé AOP – Domaine Marcel Couturier – white

Description

This characterful Chardonnay comes from the clay-limestone slopes of Fuissé, in the heart of the Mâconnais, on a terroir neighbouring the great crus of Pouilly-Fuissé. The 2022 cuvée from Domaine Marcel Couturier accurately expresses the natural richness of the climat while retaining finesse and balance.

The vines, aged 30 to 40 years, are farmed using sustainable, environmentally friendly practices, with careful soil work, no chemical herbicides, and attention paid to the microbial life of the terroir. Yields are controlled to concentrate the fruit.

The grapes, harvested at full ripeness, are whole-bunch pressed to preserve their aromatic integrity. After natural settling, alcoholic fermentation takes place in oak barrels (mostly barrels that have held 2 to 5 previous wines), with indigenous yeasts, followed by ageing on fine lees for 10 to 12 months, with little or no lees stirring in order to favour the tension and purity of the wine.

On tasting, this Mâcon-Fuissé shows a light gold colour with silvery highlights. The nose is expressive, blending white peach, candied lemon, almond blossom and a hint of smoky flint. On the palate, the attack is broad, with lovely freshness and taut minerality, balanced by a round, generous structure. The finish is long, precise and slightly saline, a typical hallmark of Fuissé’s fine limestone terroirs.

This wine is a perfect match for grilled fish or fish in sauce, shellfish or roast free-range poultry. Best enjoyed at around 12 °C, it can be savoured now but will gain in complexity over 5 to 7 years of cellaring.