Chardonnay (Pouilly Fuisse)

Yesterday, I got a request to cover Pouilly Fuisse. So, let's do it. 

Centered around the communities of Fuisse and Solutre-Pouilly in the Maconnais subregion of Bourgogne, the Appelation d'Origine Controllee (AOC) now known as Pouilly Fuisse was granted AOC status during the mid-1930s. It had a significant highlight just a few months ago when it was granted Premier Cru status in France (recall that in Burgundy, Premier Cru ranks just below Grand Cru).

Being in Burgundy, and being a white wine producing AOC, the wines of Pouilly Fuisse are necessarily made of Chardonnay. Unlike those of Chablis, for example, these wines show a very strong oak influence giving them a much more full-bodied presence and much more spice and sometimes the vanilla often seen in California Chardonnays. 

Likely because it's name sounds so distinguished, it's been a part of popular lore, particularly in the US. On Hogan's Heroes, back in the 60s, Corporal Lebeau recommended a 1941 Pouilly Fuisse (remember, that show was set in WWII) and Frasier Crane called the 1992 vintage the Nectar of the Gods (clearly, the writers thought they could pull one over on us as Pouilly Fuisse is by no means that world's finest Chardinnay and there was nothing special about the 1992 vintage). And, then there was the comedy duo of Cheech and Chong, in their film "Nice Dreams" from the early 80s, when they combined their love of drugs with a sudden passion for wine, Cheech recommended the French wine Fussy Pussy.

The classic pairing for Pouilly Fuisse is likely goat cheese, but it also works well with veal and chicken dishes particularly those prepared in white wine.


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