2015 Pouilly-Fuissé La Roche, Domaine Eric Forest

6 Bottle Case

The cheerful Eric is making some of the most exciting wines in Pouilly from his small 4.8 hectares around the village of Vergisson. He is a perfectionist and is a man wedded to the goal of making the finest wines that he can. He reports of no rain to speak of between May and August which put the vines under great stress, until some showers fell in mid-August which he followed with some ploughing to preserve humidity. These wines are not shy or lightweight. They are sizeable beasts, yet with elegance. The La Roche is a single south facing vineyard on pure limestone soil – rather similar to Chablis Grand Cru but 200km to the south. Beautifully concentrated with toast and brioche on the palate with racy acidity and minerality. 24 Carats is perhaps the finest Pouilly-Fuissé I have encountered. It is a blend of his four finest new oak barrels and numbers only 1000 bottles. Lots of toast, lots of citrus – it is an exuberant and big hearted showpiece.