2013 Marcel Couturier, Pouilly-Loche “Le Bourg” White Burgundy, France.
A recent discovery by importer Andre Tamers of De Maison Selections, the wines of Marcel Couturier in the Maconnais are a glorious secret and are a must find for the savvy Burgundy enthusiast, these hand crafted Chardonnay offering are wonderfully expressive and hail from very old vines on limestone soils. The Couturier Pouilly-Loche Le Bourg from 70 year old vines was fermented using native yeast in wood cask with a long cool malo and extended lees contact, making for a vibrant and mineral driven wine with subtle richness and inner perfume, these are very fine and serious offerings that impress and seduce in similar fashion to classic Puligny and or a modern St. Aubin, somewhere between Jobard and Colin-Morey in style! The nose lights up a smile with white flowers, crushed chalk, lime and pear leading to a palate of light brioche, green apple, lemon and tangy peach fruit, river stones, saline notes, a hint of tropical essences, quince and hazelnut, while all the while presenting a steely nature and vivid vibrancy. With air the depth begins to show in this energy filled (beautiful acidity) wine and the underlying details and structure comes into view, this is fantastic stuff, especially for the price. Drink this sublime and delicately pale Pouilly-Loche Chardonnay over the next 3 to 5 years, this White Burgundy is already drinking well now and I would guess it has enough form to age 10 or 15 years, though best from 2015 to 2020.
($32 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive
