Pouilly Fuisse, Burgundy (10 Best Chardonnay Wines, Prices 2024)

The Pouilly Fuissé appellation (pronounced - it is “poo-yee-fwee-say") is nestled among the beautiful rolling hills of the Mâconnais region in Burgundy. 

It produces only one type of wine - light and crisp Chardonnay with intense minerality and exquisite lemon flavors!  

In this article, we’ll cover all about Pouilly-Fuissé, including wine characteristics, the top Pouilly-Fuissé wines, food pairings, and the region’s beautiful vineyards and history.

The Pouilly-Fuissé Wine Region: Vineyards and Terroir

The Pouilly Fuissé appellation lies in the Mâconnais region, south of Côte de Nuits (known for its Pinot Noir wines), Côte de Beaune, and Côte Chalonnaise.

The appellation is known for its Chardonnay grape cultivation and is made up of the communes:

• Chaintré
• Vergisson (home to the Roche de Vergisson)
• Solutré-Pouilly commune (home to the Rock of Solutré) 

Famous Pouilly-Fuissé vineyards include Aux Chailloux and Les Vignes.  

The fossiliferous limestone-rich soil is covered in alkaline clay (similar to the limestone soil in Côte-d'Or) and is perfect for growing the Chardonnay grape variety.

Note: Pouilly Fuissé should not be confused with the Pouilly Fumé appellation in Loire Valley, which produces white wines from the Sauvignon Blanc grape variety.

Pouilly-Fuissé Wine Characteristics

This elegant yet complex dry French wine has emerald gold tones and a bouquet of floral aromas. On the palate, there are refreshing citrus and peach notes and a mineral taste. 

Pouilly Fuisse wine has an alcohol content of 13%, delightful oak flavor hints, and a smokey aftertaste due to the wine’s old oak barrel aging. The barrel vessels are 3 to 5 years old, which ensures that the oak flavor in the Chardonnay is not overpowering. 

Pouilly Fuisse is often compared to Chablis Chardonnays. 

However, there are major differences between the two – Chablis is unoaked which makes it far more acidic, while Pouilly Fuisse’s oak barrel aging imparts more body and buttery mouthfeel to the wines.

10 Best Pouilly-Fuissé Wines in 2024 (Including Prices and Tasting Notes)

Here are the best wines from the Pouilly-Fuissé appellation:

• Guffens-Heynen Pouilly-Fuissé Premier Jus des Hauts de Vignes, Maconnais, France, 2006
• 2018 Guffens-Heynen Pouilly-Fuisse Tris des Hauts de Vignes
• 2012 Guffens-Heynen Pouilly-Fuisse Premiers Tris
• Domaine Leflaive Pouilly-Fuisse, Maconnais, France, 2015
• Hospices de Beaune Pouilly-Fuissé Cuvée Françoise Poisard, Maconnais, France, 1996
• Domaine Leflaive Pouilly-Fuissé La Chaneau, Maconnais, France, 2018
• Guffens-Heynen C.C. Pouilly-Fuissé, Maconnais, France, 2018
• 2015 Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuisse
• Domaine Jules Desjourneys Pouilly-Fuissé Vignes Blanches, Maconnais, France, 2015
• 2016 Joseph Drouhin Pouilly-Fuisse

1. 2006 Guffens-Heynen Pouilly-Fuissé Premier Jus des Hauts de Vignes, Mâconnais, France ($110)

This white wine is exuberant and buttery, with citrus fruit and oak flavor undertones. It is a well-balanced wine with the perfect combination of acidity and softness. 

2. 2018 Guffens-Heynen Pouilly-Fuisse Tris des Hauts de Vignes ($96)

Here is another delicious Pouilly Fuisse wine from the vineyard of Guffens-Heyen. It is a beautiful white wine, with rich aromas of hazelnut, buttery vanilla, and toasted nuts. The palate bursts open with delicious pear and peach flavors. 

3. 2012 Guffens-Heynen Pouilly-Fuisse Premiers Tris ($72)

This wine is one of the best examples of what winemakers can do with a Chardonnay grape! 

It offers smoky aromas with hints of dry honey and a fruity bouquet of citrus grace, pear, and white fruits. 

4. 2015 Domaine Leflaive Pouilly-Fuissé Mâconnais, France ($81)

This Southern Burgundy wine is dry and oaky, a classic expression of Pouilly-Fuissé wine. 

This Chardonnay is buttery but fresh, with hints of lemon, grapefruit, and toasted nuts. It is fruity, well-balanced, and a treat for any white wine lover. 

5. 1996 Hospices de Beaune Pouilly-Fuissé Cuvée Françoise Poisard, Mâconnais, France ($130)

The Hospices de Beaune winery has created a Chardonnay wine with a lovely straw gold color. The palate strikes a perfect balance between fresh fruit and delicate acidity. It has fruity aromas of lime, white flowers, and honey, complemented by the wine’s mineral taste.

6. 2018 Domaine Leflaive Pouilly-Fuissé La Chaneau, Mâconnais, France ($96)

This is a sharply acidic white Burgundy wine with a nose of green apple and lemon. It is fresh and complex with vibrant Chardonnay fruit flavors and a lingering minerality.

7. 2018 Guffens-Heynen C.C. Pouilly-Fuissé, Mâconnais, France ($86)

This Pouilly-Fuissé wine is a textbook Burgundy white with a pale yellow color. Like most Pouilly-Fuissés’, it is well-balanced and subtly buttery with a nose of white fruits.

8. 2015 Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuisse ($35)

This Maison Louis Jadot wine is a classic expression of Burgundy Chardonnay. Aged for 6 months in an oak barrel, the palate bursts open with a mouth-watering yellow fruit flavor while the nose offers delicate aromas of citrus grace, oak, and vanilla. Try this Chardonnay with a creamy fish dish.

9. 2015 Domaine Jules Desjourneys Pouilly-Fuissé Vignes Blanches, Maconnais, France ($80)

This white Burgundy wine is beautiful to look at - pale yellow with emerald gold tones - and a joy to drink! It has a fragrant nose, with white flowers and earthy hints. It has excellent texture and goes down easily. 

This Pouilly-Fuissé has a palate of vibrant Chardonnay fruit flavors and a hint of minerality. 

10. 2016 Joseph Drouhin Pouilly-Fuisse ($38)

This 2016 vintage was partly aged in a stainless steel tank and an old oak barrel for about eight months. The resulting wine is lightly oaked with delicate yellow fruit flavors. You’ll also notice buttered brioche notes and a mineral taste. Try this wine with a tray of creamy cheeses.

Pouilly-Fuissé Food Pairing 

Pairing the right dishes with this French wine can really enhance its qualities. 

Pouilly-Fuissé’s minerality makes it a great pair to various fish dishes, including shellfish, king prawns, and crays. It also goes well with creamy cheeses and white meat. 

A Brief History of Pouilly-Fuissé 

In the early 1800s, scholars put Pouilly-Fuisse wines on a par with the great wines of Meursault and Montrachet.

In the beginning of the 20th century, Pouilly-Fuisse made one consolidated region with Pouilly-Fuissé, Pouilly-Loche. But it became autonomous once it was granted AOC status in 1936.  

The quality of Pouilly-Fuissé plummeted in the 1980s and 1990s due to a lack of effort by winemakers. This led to a sharp decline in the wine’s reputation. 

But in the 2000s, the Southern Burgundy wine made a comeback with improved quality. 

The caliber of the wine was almost entirely dependent on the winery. Some Pouilly-Fuissé’s turned out to be excellent examples of Burgundy Chardonnay, while others were weak and acidic. 

In 2010, the Pouilly-Fuissé AOC applied to become a Premier Cru designation. 

Thanks to the efforts of the winemakers, some Pouilly-Fuisse vineyard sites were given Premier Cru status in September 2021. (Premier Cru is the second-highest classification for regional wines in Burgundy after Grand Cru.)

Now, the Pouilly-Fuissé AOC has over 20 Premier Cru vineyards that consist of nearly 200 hectares of Chardonnay vine plantings. 

Sip On A Delicious Glass Of Pouilly Fuisse Today

Pouilly-Fuissé is a delightful and refreshing wine that appeals to both wine experts and casual wine drinkers. It goes perfectly alongside a lovely, light seafood lunch. 

But do these regional wines offer any investment potential?

Although Pouilly-Fuissé’s have decent aging potential, these Chardonnays are not investment-grade wines yet. 

But it is of equal importance to keep your eye on Pouilly-Fuissé wines for the future - mainly since it gained Premier Cru status back in 2021. 

Meanwhile, if you want to invest in other fine wines, consider partnering with a trusted wine investment company like Vinovest. Visit the website today to get more company info and sign up for promotional emails.

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