A small Pouilly Fuissé… with all the characteristics of a good white Burgundy

The Domaine Daniel Pollier Macon-Villages is a powerful and full-bodied wine with all the characteristics of a very good white Burgundy. The nose is very open upon uncorking and reveals a certain complexity, due to a touch of minerality resulting from a rather refined terroir. It is then the notes of fruit (apricot, peach) that take over, especially on the palate. This wine displays great delicacy and, in terms of accessibility and roundness, matches what can be expected from a Macon Villages. This wine has a nose of ripe fruit. On the palate, it is well-structured, with a hint of honey. The freshness pairs beautifully with the firm structure. The wine is fresh yet possesses a pleasant maturity. Pairs perfectly with shellfish, white fish, pork, and mushrooms. Excellent value for money.

Domaine Daniel Pollier has been in the hands of the Pollier family for four generations and is located in the heart of the beautiful town of Fuissé. (Fun fact: there is also a village called Pouilly just a little further away, hence the name). The estate has only 8 hectares in both St. Véran and Pouilly-Fuissé. As with the vast majority of good white Burgundies, the Chardonnay grape is mandated by law for the production of Pouilly-Fuissé and St. Véran. The vineyards are situated on the steep rocky slopes near Vergisson and Solutré, where the soil consists of clayey limestone close to the excellent Pouilly-Fuissé. Here, the grapes benefit from the best light, ideal humidity, and optimal temperature at an altitude of 250 to 300 meters above sea level.

Macon villages

Mâcon-Villages is an appellation for dry white wines made from the Chardonnay grape variety. These are produced in selected communes of the Mâconnais wine region in southern Burgundy. The appellation represents a leap in quality compared to the standard Mâcon title.

Municipalities named Mâcon-Villages may add their name to the Mâcon appellation on labels or simply call their wines Mâcon-Villages. Examples include Mâcon-Lugny, Mâcon-Vergisson, or Mâcon-Fuissé. All these AOCs are for white wine only, with the exception of Mâcon-Serrières. A wine produced from grapes grown in more than one of the mentioned municipalities must bear the Mâcon-Villages label.

The villages in question are scattered across the Mâconnais region, with a slight inclination towards the hills west of the city of Mâcon. The villages located further north are more spread out, separated by stretches of forest. The hilly area in the south is much more densely covered with vineyards. These hills offer the best of the Mâconnais terroir, and it is here that the prestigious villages of Pouilly, Vinzelles, and Loché are located.

Generally, the landscape of the Mâconnais is one of rolling limestone hills, bordered to the east by the River Saône, which flows south to meet the Rhône just outside Lyon. The climate shows signs of the region's proximity to the Rhône Valley. Average temperatures are higher than in the rest of Burgundy. There is less rainfall and—perhaps most importantly—there is less risk of spring frost damaging the vines. Chardonnay ripens here more successfully than further north, and the wines it produces are considerably richer than those of Chablis—the northernmost Burgundian appellation.