Sauvignon Blanc has seen a recent surge in popularity. It’s hard to find a wine list these days without examples from New Zealand, California and Washington. But the original source for Sauvignon Blanc is France’s Loire Valley.
The twin villages of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé are the home towns of Sauvignon blanc. Here the grape takes on a distinctly mineral and citrus character. As the name suggests, the wines of Pouilly-Fumé also feature notes of smoke and gunflint, a result of the soils’ high flint content.
Our producer here is Frederic Michot, a small family vigneron with no other US importer and excellent wines. Both of his two excellent 2017 cuvées have just arrived in our warehouse.
Michot’s 2017 Pouilly-Fumé is crisp and delicious — the nose is bright and expressive, with ripe grapefruit, honey, and lime. The mouth is full and very lively. There’s no oak at all, and the palate sings with zippy fruit and minerals. The palate is midweight and very clean, with a dry, slightly smoky finish.
This is pure, unoaked, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc — perfect as an aperitif on its own, or to pair with a table of appetizers at your next holiday party. We enjoyed some last night with Ottolenghi’s Leek Fritters, and the match was superb. If you’re short on time or turmeric, try some crusty bread with a Loire-style chèvre.
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Michot Pouilly-Fumé 2017
bottle price: $19
FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING ON ANY 12 BOTTLES