2022 Pouilly-Fuissé Les Vignes Blanches 1er Cru

I always worry when I return to see Frédéric Burrier. I will never forget witnessing the intense hailstorm in June 2021, just as I started tasting. This time, I told Burrier not to worry because, just for a change in this inclement season, his vines were bathing under a clear blue sky. From his winery, a couple of kilometers from the village of Fuissé, he has several brands bought from various family members over the years. Apart from Château de Beauregard, you will also see wines labelled under Maison Joseph Burrier, Domaine de la Rochette and Château du Clos.

“I think in 2022, there is a lot of difference between the bottom and the top of the range, which is the same for 2020,” Burrier tells me. “They are close in style. I prefer them both to 2019 in the Mâconnais, maybe because we were a bit late with the harvest, so the wines are a bit rich. In 2020 and 2022, we were better in terms of picking dates. In 2023, we started picking on September 6; in 2022, it was the end of August. Because of the dry summer, the average yield for the top Pouilly-Fuissé was about 45hl/ha.” The quality here has become much more consistent in recent vintages. Check out his superb Pouilly-Fuissé Les Ménétrières 1er Cru or Les Crays. The standout is the Pouilly-Fuissé Pouilly Hommage à Léonard Chandon 1er Cru, a bit of a tongue-twister but worth it.