Pouilly Fuisse Lescombes Vielles Vignes 150cl

Description

A parcel located at the bottom of the Pouilly-Fuiss¬é village, Les Combes is one of Jean-Marie Guffens’ favourite vineyards–a prejudice that makes perfect sense when you taste the wine. The oldest vines, planted in 1915 (!), are north-facing while another parcel of vines (a mere 60 years old) faces south. Each parcel is picked and vinified separately before blending. Guffens maintains that the resulting whole is far greater than the sum of its parts. Incidentally, the soils here are of course clay and limestone with a higher proportion of clay than most, so it’s one of the few Verget wines to be entirely fermented in oak barrels (only 25% new). Such is the density here that it demands oak ¬élevage. Having said that, the wine only spends seven months in cask before being put to tank. This is an essay in balanced power, old-vine density and freshness; expect all kinds of white-fleshed stone fruits and citrus pith, as well as subtle hints of flint and smoke and a super-long, driven close. Super class. A class above as you would expect.