Pascal Jolivet was founded in 1987 and is one of the most dynamic domaines in France’s Loire Valley. Based in Sancerre, the domaine now owns 70 hectares of vineyards spread across the appellations of Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé. The domaine supplements the estate holdings with additional fruit sourced from long-term contract growers some of the prime sites of the region including ‘Les Caillottes’, ‘Le Chêne Marchand’ and ‘Le Clos du Roy’. Pascal shares his philosophy with winemaker, Valentina Buoso: to work in harmony with nature to produce wines with purity of fruit, a linear character and minerality, allowing a natural expression of the vineyard to give the wines a sense of place.
Pouilly is situated 200km south of Paris, on the east bank of the Loire. Jolivet owns 8 hectares, in the villages of Tracy and Les Loges. Located close to the Loire River and surrounded by forest creates a relatively mild micro climate for the vineyards. The grapes come from 6.5 hectare parcel from the vineyard called ‘Le Bouchat’, to the north-east of the appellation where the soils are limestone and clay. The soils are white, reflecting the sunlight back onto the vines and giving the wine its name: ‘Les Terres Blanches’. The vines are trained using the vertical shoot positioning system.
After harvest, the grapes are hand sorted and then gently pressed. The juice is then fermented in stainless steel using natural yeasts, at 18°C for 20 days. The grapes from each parcel are fermented separately. After fermentation, the wine spends a further two months maturing on its lees before bottling.
Wonderfully pure with great concentration. Notes of wet stones and citrus, this wine is elegant with peach flavours and an attractive flinty character on the finish.
Delicate fish or vegetable dishes, salads or goats’ cheese.
Serve at 10-12°C.
James Suckling: 92 Points
Pouilly-Fumé AOC, Loire
100% Sauvignon Blanc
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