Twenty-nine years ago, Pouilly-Fuissé was all the rage. I remember going to the then “hot spots” in Boston’s fine dining scene and being literally awash in the wine. The sad part of the memory is that Pouilly-Fuissé just wasn’t that good. It was a pretender to the throne of those rarified white Burgundies from the Cote d’Or, and the American fine wine palate was anything but fully evolved, so we really didn’t know any better.

Fortunately, times and trends change and serious producers perfect their craft, like J.J. Vincent. I know many of Vincent’s other wines and I am quite the fan, but I had not heard of the Marie Antoinette. From the Fredrick Wildman web site:

The J.J. Vincent Pouilly-Fuissé Cuvèe Marie Antoinette is a tribute to Jean Jacques Vincent’s mother; Marie Antoinette Vincent. The wine is sourced from several parcels including young vines from the Chateau Fuissé vineyards of Le Clos, Les Brules and Le Combettes as well as several non-domaine yet family owned parcels throughout the appellation.

Impressive pedigree and it shows – the wine is bright and expressive, with solid Burgundian terrior. A charming alternative to domestic Chardonnay, at an average retail price of $19.99 per bottle, the wine is quite a nice value.

My tasting note:

Lively nose with apple, vanilla and dried hay hints. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity – good balance. Lush palate with citrus, apricot and a judicious dash of oak. Moderate length – smooth with persistent vanilla on the aftertaste. Drinking now – not for aging.

Cheers!