Pouilly-Fume
Pouilly-Fume
Not to be confused with the well-known Burgundy village of Pouilly-Fuisse, Pouilly-Fume is one of the most recognised and prized white wines of the Loire Valley, alongside neighbouring Sancerre. The name combines the village of Pouilly, which sits at the centre of the vineyards, and the French term for Sauvignon Blanc, Blanc Fume. The fume refers to the smoky, flinty aroma found in the treasured Sauvignon Blancs made in the region. The distinctive wines of Pouilly-Fume are made exclusively from Sauvignon Blanc, and their vibrant, intense characteristics of gooseberry, nettle and grass, alongside stony minerality and nervy acidity make for some of the most easily recognisable wines in France. The flinty limestone soils and cool climate provide ideal conditions for growing Sauvignon Blanc and growing numbers of producers seek to add complexity to the pungent, pure flavours by using oak, adding complexity and a richer textural element to the finished wines.
