The flint-rich soils of Pouilly-Fumé, just east of Sancerre, are famed for producing one of the most mineralic, precise, and energetic Sauvignon Blancs on the planet. One taste of Francis Blanchet's 2024 Vieilles Vignes bottling, and the aforementioned statement becomes abundantly obvious.
The limestone-rich, rocky soils of the AOC are quite distinctive, and if you knock two of the vineyard stones together, you can’t help but be bowled over by the aromas of flint and smoke. You see, "fumé" means “smoked” in French, and this 8th generation, family-run estate lets this special terroir shine through in all of their wines, but especially so in their old-vine bottling.
I really had to maintain my poker face when I tasted this one last week and heard the price. I know I'm constantly touting the value of the wines we feature, but this is one for the ages. I'm talking about first-rate, noble, Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc at less than $30!
2024 Domaine Francis Blanchet Pouilly-Fumé Vieilles Vignes
Why should you buy it?
- Old vines are the moral of the story here. Blanchet includes their oldest vine "material" in this bottle, with some of the vines being over 80 years old! As vines get older, they dig deeper into these rocky soils, the yields go down, and the flavors intensify.
- The Blanchets are working with some of the oldest existing clones of Sauvignon Blanc, the true "mother" rootstock of Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc. Many of these vines are massale selection plantings from original rootstock planted by Francis Blanchet’s grandparents.
- This is the essence of Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc. Crisp and light on the tongue, don't take that to mean this isn't intensely flavored. Far from it, this exudes aromas and flavors of Meyer lemon, pear, lime zest, kumquat, and smoky, flinty minerality.
- Just 200 cases were imported to the US, and just 40 made their way to NC. Luckily, we got in early on this one and were able to claim 14 of those cases. I'm already begging for more because I know it's not going to be enough.
Enjoy this wine nicely chilled with a tomato-based fish soup, Thai or Vietnamese cuisine, or sushi. It will pair perfectly, but it's also quite delicious and compelling on its own.
