Trénel Pouilly Vinzelles Les Quarts 2022

Trénel makes this white from Chardonnay grown on the Les Quarts vineyard in AOC Pouilly-Vinzelles, in the Mâconnais of southern Burgundy near Mâcon. The vines are about 55 years old and rooted in calcareous and marl-limestone soils. Old vines carry small crops of concentrated fruit and reach deep for water and minerals, while the limestone base is the classic Burgundian source of tension and a chalky, mineral finish. The wine spends twelve months in French oak barrels. During ageing the wine sits on its fine lees, which are stirred or left in contact to release mannoproteins that thicken the texture, while slow oxygen transfer through the wood softens the acidity and adds a toasted, nutty layer. Malolactic fermentation rounds the sharper malic acid into a creamier profile. The colour is bright gold. The nose is precise, with white peach, lemon, pear, hazelnut and toasted bread over a honeyed depth. The palate is full but taut, with fine oak, a creamy mid-palate and a long, mineral finish. Serve at 11 to 12 degrees in a large white wine glass.