What I Learned:
The Pouilly-Fume appellation is located along the central section of the Loire river on the right bank. Seven communes, to include the main town in the area, Pouilly-sur-Loire, lie within the appellation. It is not a large appellation, as there are slightly less than 1400 hectares (about 3500 acres) planted within the appellation limits.
It is a very well-known white wine appellation. For centuries, the area has produced wines. Its tradition of wine-making dates to late Gallo-Roman times, and the wines been esteemed since the medieval era, although it wasn’t until 1937 that it obtained appellation status.
Diverse and complex soils give the wine its unique flavor. These include hard limestone, flint and Kimmeridgian marl. The last is a combination of bits of limestone and clay. Diverse plots may be characterized as one or the other (or even a combination of them), and the resulting wines, even from one vintner on adjacent plots, may be strikingly different.
Mostly Sauvignon Blanc, also called Blanc Fume, grows here. This is the main varietal, covering about 95% of the AOC zone. Fume means smoky. The Pouilly-Fume appellation wine, made exclusively of Sauvignon Blanc, often (but not always) expresses the minerality of the soil in a “gunflint” or smoky nose or taste. Wine lovers should definitely experience a formal tasting of these wines when given an opportunity.
A word of advice: Read the label carefully. Aside from Appellation Pouilly-Fume Controlee, there is another appellation in this area – Appellation Pouilly-sur-Loire Controlee. This is from Chassellas grapes, and is delicious as well, but it is not Sauvignon Blanc.
What I Tasted:
2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Les Angelots, Appellation Pouilly-Fume Controlee, Domaine Masson-Blondelet (Pouilly s/Loire): A dry white wine with a light gold color, flint nose, with flinty, spicy, citrus and floral flavors; medium minus acidity.
2015 Sauvignon Blanc; Appellation Pouilly-Fume Controlee, Domaine de Ladoucette: A dry white wine with a darker light gold color; nose of pear and citrus, and citrus, smoke and vanilla flavors, and hints of minerality; medium high acidity, with a tart finish.
2014 Sauvignon Blanc; Appellation Pouilly-Fume Controlee, Patrick Noel: A dry white wine with medium-dark gold color; fruity and vanilla nose; fruity, vanilla, honey and smoky flavors, with a hint of mustard; mild acidity, very smooth.
2013 Sauvignon Blanc, Les Porcheronnes, Appellation Pouilly-Fume Controlee, Marc Deschamps (Pouilly-sur-Loire): A dry white wine with light yellow color; very fruity (citrus) nose, with some minerality, a light bodied wine with medium high acidity.
2012 Sauvignon Blanc, Les Porcheronnes, AC Pouilly-Fume, Domaine Marc Deschamps: A dry white wine with light yellow color; citrus and mineral flavors, a light to medium body with surprisingly low acidity (for a Pouilly-Fume).
2011 Sauvignon Blanc, AC Pouilly-Fume, Domaine Maltaverne: A dry white wine with dark yellow (not gold) color; interesting grassy scent; citrus or green apple, sharp, fruit flavors and some minerality, a medium body with a medium acidity.