Pouilly Fuissé 1er Cru 'Les Crays' Eric Forest 2022
ArtisanalThe Pouilly Fuissé 1er Cru "Les Crays" from the Eric Forest winery is a Chardonnay with a full-bodied and intense sip. The grapes are harvested from the homonymous plot, which enjoys excellent exposure and protection from the cold north wind. The vinification takes place by means of indigenous yeasts and the aging is carried out in oak barrels for 12-18 months. On the nose are perceived notes of dried fruit, white flowers, hints of mimosa and honey, aromas of orange jam and apricot
The ‘Les Crays’ Pouilly-Fuissé Premier Cru by Eric Forest represents a classy label characterized by an enveloping opulence. The small Burgundy Domaine Eric Forest consists of about 9 hectares spread over exceptional denominations of the Mâconnais, where the Forest family has been passing down the vineyards and winemaking knowledge for eight generations. Eric performs all agronomic operations by hand, aiming to be rigorously precise and taking the utmost care of the plants. Of the total 9.5 hectares belonging to the Premier Cru ‘Les Crays’, the winery owns as much as 2.16.
Eric Forest Pouilly-Fuissé ‘Les Crays’ Premier Cru comes from only old Chardonnay plants exposed to the south. The grapes come from different plots planted between 1930 and 1966 on soils formed by limestone gravel on a substrate of blue marl originating during the geological stage of the Pliensbachian, which in turn dates back to the Jurassic period. Once the right ripeness is reached, the clusters are hand-picked and then gently pressed, with the must thus obtainedthat undergoes spontaneous alcoholic fermentation. Subsequently, the wine is placed in oak barrels where it rests for about 12-18 months before bottling, with reduced doses of sulfites.
To the eye, the Pouilly-Fuissé ‘Les Crays’ Premier Cru by Eric Forest shows a straw yellow color tending towards golden. The aromatic profile is vast and intriguing with its scents of dried fruit, white flowers, citrus, apricot, pear, orange marmalade, mimosa, and honey, enriched by delicate woody notes. The taste is deep, with a rich and soft body well balanced by the taut fresh-salty shoulder. The finish is very long and saline, reminiscent of the olfactory perceptions.