Alcohol: 13,5%
Grape(s): Sauvignon Blanc
Localization: Pouilly-Fumé, Loire Valley, France
Tasting Notes: Aromas of crushed oyster shells, white flowers, crisp pear, lemon rind. Flavors of limes and lemons, fresh white fruits, a dusting of white pepper and sea salt on the finish. Crisp and lively.
Food pairing: Goat cheese, fish soup, Thai or Vietnamese cuisine
Notes: ‘Cuvée Kriotine’ is a special terroir selection, hailing from a vineyard that Francis’ grandparents first planted so many years ago. Here, chalky limestone soils create an ideal mineral cocktail for Sauvignon Blanc vines, giving grapes pep and poise and energy that translates directly to the glass. ‘Kriotine’ is a fantasy name inspired by the word ‘criot,’ which in local dialect describes a vineyard terroir with many white stones.
The Domain: You may never have heard of "scratch and sniff" terroir before, but the vineyards in Pouilly-Fumé offer an aromatic, unforgettable lesson on Sauvignon Blanc’s flinty soul.
We stood in the center of the "Silice" vineyard during a recent visit when winemaker Francis Blanchet grabbed two rocks from the ground, smashed them together—and then held them up for us to smell. Now the whole terroir concept is interesting, but sniffing rocks is weird. But Blanchet insisted—and right there we got a good whiff of what makes "Cuvée Silice" so firecracker-fresh.
The unmistakable smell of an exploding cap gun, memories of childhood Fourth of July fun. These rocks, and the "Silice" vineyard, are 100% flintstone. The smoky energy in every one of these rocks is absorbed by each, perfect Sauvignon Blanc grape. It's what puts the smoke in "Fumé" and the bracing, enervating minerality in classic Sauvignon Blanc from this excellent estate. For more than a decade we’ve been lucky enough to sample Blanchet's crystalline Sauvignon Blanc and have been knocked off our feet each time. Here is a white wine with both bite and body, sweet white fruit wrapped in a refreshingly light, citrus lining. Exactly what Pouilly-Fumé is supposed to be—balanced, fresh and fruity, and at its heart a stony, flint-inspired soul.
