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If you love Chardonnay, then trying the wines of Pouilly-Fuissé is a must. Producers like Domaine Barraud craft some of the finest white wines in this subregion of Burgundy, and many critics believe that their quality is on par with that of the Côte de Beaune, one of the best Chardonnay growing regions in the world.
The winery’s location near the Rock of Vergisson, an iconic geographic landmark in Burgundy that juts into the heavens, sets the tone for these inspiring wines.
Domaine Barraud is well known among lovers of Pouilly-Fuissé Burgundy. This storied winery has been producing noteworthy wines for over a century.
The story of the Barraud family begins in 1905 when patriarch Jean-Marie Barraud was a vineyard sharecropper who dreamed of creating his winery and making wines from his own grapes rather than that of another vigneron.
By 1912, he had saved enough money to make his dream a reality, and he purchased the first parcels of land that would become Domaine Barraud.
The winery would go on to be handed down from generation to generation, and the current owners, Daniel and Martine, took over in 1979. Since then, their son, Julien, who is also Domaine Barraud’s winemaker, and daughter, Anaise, who manages the finances, have carried on the family tradition.
With the children now poised to completely manage the property in the future, this will be the fifth generation of the Barraud family to make wine on this prestigious site.
Julien uses native yeasts during the fermentation process, rather than adding commercially processed yeasts, and firmly believes in farming all of the vineyard sites organically.
To maintain the quality of the wine, after the grapes are pressed, the juice is gravity-fed into barrels to age.
Vineyards at Domaine Barraud are situated high on the hillsides, which allows the grapes to ripen slowly and achieve an ideal acidity for this style of wine. When we say that these hillsides are steep, we should clarify that the vineyards are actually the highest in Pouilly-Fuissé. These Chardonnay vines are planted at an incredible 1,600 ft.
The grapes used in this bottling come from south-facing vines that are over 60 years old and are located on the upper part of Les Crays.
All aspects of the vineyard, from pruning to harvesting, are done by hand. Sulfur and copper sulfate are the only amendments added to the clay, limestone, and chalk soil.
Pouilly-Fuissé is located within the Mâconnais region of Burgundy, France, and is known throughout the wine world for producing exceptional Chardonnays that are both elegant and rich.
The region gained its appellation status in 1936 and currently encompasses just over 2,000 acres of vines. The soil here is rich in limestone and clay, and that, combined with the cool temperatures, creates the perfect growing conditions for Chardonnay grapes.
White wines from Pouilly-Fuissé are aged in oak barrels, which helps to create the rich mouthfeel and full-bodied styles of wines that the region is known for.
France
Pouilly-Fuissé, Mâconnais, Burgundy
100% Chardonnay
13
Julien Barraud
49–55°F / 9–12°C
Chardonnay
Not Needed
Now to 2030
Domaine Barraud
Domaine Barraud makes five Pouilly Fuissé Chardonnays, and the Les Crays is arguably the most concentrated cru with equally compelling minerality and precision.
In the glass, the wine is a light lemon color. The 2017 Barraud Pouilly Fuisse had already been in the bottle for about six years, and the nose presents pronounced, well-developed elements of mature peach, fresh melon, aromatic honeysuckle, and yeasty brioche. This wine is aged in 20% new oak barrels, and there is a faint but pleasant oakiness to aromas.
The palate is elegant and approachable, with similar qualities of melon, peach, and blossoming honeysuckle present. That the wine is aged for 12 months in 20% new oak barrels, 80% neutral oak, and then spends three months in stainless steel, gives the palate tremendous balance and preserves this Chardonnay’s minerality while also creating soft, buttery oak notes.
A really lovely example of the best that Mâconnais has to offer.
This bottle Chardonnay just dazzles. With a palate that is both delicate, but full-bodied, mineral-driven, but lush with fruit, it’s hard not to love this wine. If you need another reason to try one of Domaine Barraud’s wines, keep in mind that this winery has just as much quality and craftsmanship as the prestigious Côte d’Or, but is available at a price point that is far more accessible.
