Domaine Merlin : Pouilly-Fuissé 1er cru "Sur la Roche" 2022

Characteristics and tasting notes for the Pouilly-Fuissé 1er cru "Sur la Roche" 2022 Domaine Merlin

Tasting notes

Colour
A vibrant golden yellow hue, enhanced by delicate silver and green highlights, characterises this wine and reflects its remarkable freshness.

Nose
Beautifully precise, the nose exudes aromas of citrus fruits (lemon, lime) and stone fruits such as white peach and pear. Subtle floral notes intertwine with a pronounced mineral character, evoking chalk, flint and iodine, occasionally nuanced by hints of aniseed and honey.

Palate
The attack is direct, guided by a saline minerality. The palate reveals an angular structure and remarkable tension, supported by finely balanced acidity. The silky, harmonious texture accompanies refined fruity flavours, extending into a long, persistent finish.

Food and wine pairing
This white wine pairs wonderfully with seafood, oysters or shellfish such as lobster. It also enhances white fish, white meats served with a creamy sauce, as well as fresh or matured goat's cheese.

Service and storage
To fully appreciate the Pouilly-Fuissé 1er cru "Sur la Roche" 2022, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 10 and 15°C. While it can be enjoyed in its youth, this wine will reach its peak and develop its full complexity if cellared until around 2035, or even 2042 for those willing to wait longer.

The mineral expression of a great white Burgundy

The estate
Founded in 1987 by Olivier and Corinne, Domaine Merlin is located in La Roche-Vineuse, in the heart of southern Burgundy. This family-run estate, now led by the founders and their sons Paul and Théo, spans approximately 22 hectares. Renowned for its artisanal approach and deep respect for the environment, the estate favours sustainable methods without seeking official certification. The winemakers are dedicated to expressing the purity and individuality of each Mâconnais terroir, producing wines of remarkable precision that reflect the excellence of their heritage.

The vineyard
This Pouilly-Fuissé comes from plots reaching nearly 400 metres in altitude on the steep slopes of the Roche de Vergisson. Facing east and southeast, the vines, planted in 1945, thrive on shallow soils composed of hard Jurassic limestone and chailles. This poor, rocky terroir naturally limits yields, forcing the vines to draw nutrients from deep within the soil, giving the wine a unique concentration and mineral expression.

The vintage
The year 2022 was marked by particularly hot and scorching weather conditions from mid-June onwards. Despite these extreme temperatures, moderate rainfall allowed the vines to continue their growing cycle without excessive water stress. The altitude and exposure of the plots played a key role in preserving the freshness of the grapes until harvest, which was carried out by hand between late August and early September.

Winemaking and aging
The grapes are harvested in small crates to preserve their integrity. At the winery, whole-bunch pressing is carried out directly, followed by static cold settling without the addition of enzymes. Fermentation of the Pouilly-Fuissé 1er cru "Sur la Roche" 2022 takes place using indigenous yeasts in traditional 228-litre oak barrels. After a natural malolactic fermentation, the wine is aged for 16 to 18 months in barrels, followed by a period of rest on fine lees. A light filtration is carried out before bottling.

Grape variety
Chardonnay (100%).