Château Des Rontets "Clos Varambon" Pouilly-Fuissé 2022

Clos Varambon is an organically farmed, elegant white Burgundy from the heart of the Mâconnais. It reveals delicate aromas of white flowers, citrus and subtle oak, leading to a rich yet finely balanced palate with mineral precision. Refined and expressive, there is a grandeur to the almost oily concentration which soars across the palate. Rich and long.

This is a perfect example of wine that speaks eloquently and directly of place, or terroir. Clos Varambon is made from all the vines within the estate's Clos (walled vineyard), which were planted after 1945. This includes various plots with different age and rootstock, adding up to a total surface of 4.5 hectares which include only one hectare of "young" vines aged less than 20 years. The vinification is made in 30-hectoliter oak vats, in 400-liter and 228-liter barrels. This cuvée is bottled after 24 months maturing, without fining or filtration.

The historic property of Chateau des Rontets is surrounded by its own organically cultivated vineyards. The quality is impeccable across the range, defining a high point in this southern Burgundy appellation, and the wines are considered to have the quality level of much more expensive Meursault or Puligny-Montrachet. The Birbettes is the grand cru of this outstanding estate in Pouilly Fuisse, and it comprises the oldest vines from the walled vineyards surrounding the chateau as well as the best barrels from the vintage.

The conversion to organic farming in 2005 was a necessary step to realising the potential of the vineyard. New vines are propagated from the best plant material in the vineyard, rather than from clones purchased at the nursery, and the dense planting regime focuses quality through smaller yields of more concentrated fruit.

The same level of detail and thought goes into the vinifications, which take place with natural yeasts, and no intervention to the fermenting must. Vinifications are long and never rushed, and are carried out in large wooden vats from carefully selected sources. The wines are aged on the fine lees in a mix of smaller oak barrels of up to 10 years of age, so as not to impart the intrusive flavors of wood.