2023 Château des Quarts Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru "Clos des Quarts" Monopole Aux Quarts

This is one of Burgundy's rarest bottlings, a true monopole from a partnership between two of the Mâconnais's most respected names. Founded in 2011, Château des Quarts brought together Olivier Merlin, a longtime champion of the region, and Dominique Lafon, celebrated for decades of work in the Côte de Beaune. Together they set out to restore a forgotten historic terroir to its rightful place among Burgundy's great white wines. The Clos des Quarts sits in Chaintré, the southernmost village of the Pouilly-Fuissé appellation, enclosed entirely by a centuries-old stone wall that makes it a monopole in the truest sense: this parcel belongs to one estate alone. It's a small site, just over two hectares, with vines dating back to 1917, planted at high density on clay-limestone soils rich in crinoidal limestone. The name "quart" is thought to reference the plot's historic status as the finest quarter of the vineyard, once reserved for local lords. The parcel was elevated to Premier Cru status starting with the 2020 vintage. In the cellar, the fruit is whole-bunch pressed for gentle extraction, then fermented and aged for 18 months in French oak barrels with only a single racking to preserve the fine lees. The result is a Chardonnay of real precision and tension: expect white-fleshed fruit and citrus on the nose, with a palate that's fresh and dynamic, layered with crushed stone, saline minerality, and a long, persistent finish.