Domaine Figeat, `L'Héritage` Pouilly-Fumé 2021

Domaine Figeat, `L'Héritage` Pouilly-Fumé is pale lemon in colour. The nose is characterised by enticing aromas of citrus and white peach with a hint of gunflint. Complex and rich on the palate, the expressive bright citrus and stone fruit notes are well balanced by a precise acidity which persists on the long finish. The old Roman road running between the vines immediately behind the Figeat winery in Pouilly-sur-Loire gives an indication of the village’s long winemaking history. For many generations, the Figeat domaine was handed down from father to son until, a few years ago, André Figeat’s daughter, Anne-Sophie, left her successful career as a chemist to join her father in the winery. Anne-Sophie produces pristine and nicely defined wines from just over 16 hectares of vineyards split between Pouilly itself, the flintier soils of St Andelain and the steeper, calcaire slopes that run down to the river by Les Loges. While the Figeat domaine is one of the oldest family estates in Pouilly, they have not shied away from innovation. Their completely rebuilt chai has state of the art equipment, including a pneumatic press and temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks as well as a dry ice machine to protect the grapes on the journey from trailer to press. Work in the vineyards is meticulous to control vine vigour, including the use of cover crops and summer crop thinning, when necessary, to help produce fully ripe, healthy grapes. Where André’s emphasis was on rich, full bodied wines with higher alcohol, Anne-Sophie aims for a more classic style.