Long day today. Early morning travel from town of Beaune to the nearby village of Soultré near Pouilly In the commune of Fuissé. 

 

Solutré Chardonnay vines of Dom. Des Gerbeaux


Here resides the small winery, Domaine des Gerbeaux, guided by owner/winemaker, Jean-Michel Drouin. Production here is roughly 2200 total cases of 10 different micro-climate bottlings. All 17 acres of low-yield, biodynamically farmed vines are Guyot trained and planted in Pouilly-Fuissé (12 acres), Saint-Veran, and in Mâcon-Villages. Vines average 40 years of age with some vines reaching 90 years. Harvest is guided by the lunar calendar and done by hand despite most parcels being planted on dramatic 40° slopes. All sorting and vinification is achieved in a very small, temperature-controlled environment. These are hand-crafted wines in the strictest sense.

 

More Chardonnay vines in Solutré
adjacent to the winery.

Snowy and cold, the landscape is severe and breath-taking. There are pretty much only vines as far as the eye can see wherever they can be planted. These vineyards, planted across the narrow road from Drouin’s modest home/winery facility are within the confines of the Solutré village micro-climate.

 

 

 

 

At the winery, we tasted through 10 bottlings from current vintages (2011 & 2012) and 2010 as well as five barrel samples of 2012 prestige production. These were all exceptional, but here are some highlights:

 

A man and his babies.

  • 2012 Mâcon-Villages (rich, creamy apple and brioche — incredible value)
  • 2012 Mâcon-Chantré (bright and high-toned, but full apple and nougat)
  • 2012 Mâcon-Soultré (pineapple and guava flavors with bracing acidity and a long, mineral finish)
  • 2011 Pouilly-Fuissé Vieilles Vignes (gentle pear and nougat with a soft mineral fade)
  • 2011 Clos-Pouilly (the star of the show — lush and silky, papaya, pear, marshmallow, exceptional balance)
 

Liquid gold in stainless steel.