Pouilly-Vinzelles

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The Pouilly-Vinzelles appellation is located on the eastern slope of the easternmost ridge of the Mâconnais hills, facing east toward the Saône plain and the Bresse.
• The slope exposes limestone and marls (argillaceous limestone) of the Lower and Middle Jurassic, with Triassic sandstones at the top of the slope.
• Soils tend to be acidic and beige-coloured at the top of the slope, becoming clay-limestone and red-brown in the middle and lower sections, with locally thin soils over hard limestone.
• The delimited parcels for the harvest are situated on the east-facing slope, at elevations between 210 and 280 metres, overlooking the villages of Loché and Vinzelles.
• The oceanic climate, tempered by southern influences, shows a mean annual temperature of 11°C with warm, well-sunny summers and annual rainfall not exceeding 800 millimetres.
• Climatic extremes are moderated by the natural barrier of the Monts du Charollais to the west, which partly shields the vines from humid influences, and by mild air currents from the south channelled through the Rhône corridor from the first fine days of the year.

• The place name Vinicella, recorded in the third century AD and meaning 'little vine', attests to viticulture in Pouilly-Vinzelles from the Gallo-Roman period.
• Recognition as an appellation d'origine by court ruling dates from 1931, supported by the Cave coopérative des Grands crus blancs founded in 1929, prior to the appellation d'origine contrôlée decree of 27 April 1940.
• The vines are trained using bow-pruning, known as the 'taille à queue du Mâconnais', which is the predominant method in the vineyard.

• The wine displays a pale gold appearance with green highlights and a subtle, floral bouquet evoking white flowers and acacia, which may deepen with age.
• On the palate, it develops a range of citrus and white-fleshed fruit characters that evolve with age toward dried-fruit aromas and honeyed notes, with a minerality balanced by richness and body.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

Dénominations géographiques complémentaires

• Pouilly-Vinzelles premier cru AOC (PDO)
• Pouilly-Vinzelles premier cru Les Longeays AOC (PDO)
• Pouilly-Vinzelles premier cru Les Pétaux AOC (PDO)
• Pouilly-Vinzelles premier cru Les Quarts AOC (PDO)

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 6 décembre 2011, JORF décembre 2011
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — BIVB