Wines of France / Burgundy / Mâconnais / Pouilly Fuissé / Domaine Carrette

Domaine Carrette

Domaine Carrette Is located in the village of Vergisson, at the foot of the famous Roche de Vergisson, in the heart of Pouilly-Fuissé. Their parcels are spread over fourteen hectares, eight of which are in Pouilly-Fuisse, three of which are in neighboring Saint-Veran, with the remaining three in Mâcon Milly-Lamartine and Mâcon Solutré. In 1980, Henri Carrette, a farmer-sharecropper, managed to buy several hectares of vines in Vergisson. His son, Jean-Michel, built up the winery to its present size, but in the early days, almost all the wine was sold in bulk. 
Picture
Estate bottling began seriously in 2008 and is now run by Jean-Michel’s son, Hervé, and his oenologist wife, Nathalie, a native of Alsace. Herve works largely in the vineyards and the cellar, while Nathalie follows the development of the wines, having studied winemaking at the University of Montpellier. The Carrettes work very carefully in the vineyard, as referenced by their recent organic certification. 
The grapes are hand-harvested, and in the cellar, a cold soak and soft pressing help bring forth clear fruit aromas. Spontaneous fermentation takes place with native yeasts, and the wines go through malolactic fermentation. These are transparent wines of great purity and typicity, harvested early and vinified in larger oak to preserve freshness, thus greatly reflective of their individual sites and place of origin.
Domaine Carrette Pouilly Fuissé 1er Cru En Servy 2022
One of the Carrette’s excellent collection of newly designated 1er Cru vineyards, En Servy is a small 0.25ha parcel in Solutré planted in 1971 on a steep south facing slope full of stony marl originating from the imposing Roche de Solutré above the vineyard. Rich and full yet finely detailed, it offers notes of ripe stone fruit, yellow flowers, toasted brioche, and melted butter. Generous, silky, and imminently satisfying, this ample Chardonnay will offer great pleasure young, especially with white fish in sauce, lobster, or the upcoming dungeness crab season.
Domaine Carrette Mâcon Milly-Lamartine 2022
The Carrette’s Mâcon Milly-Lamartine originates from two complimentary parcels, one at 300m in Milly that ripens on the early side and one at over 400m iin Berzé that ripens late. Vinified separately in stainless steel with native yeast then blended after malolactic. The resulting wine is lively, with plenty of ripe citrus, stone fruit, and white flowers atop a light to medium bodied frame of noticeable tension. A perfect aperitif and versatile as a dynamic Chardonnay by the glass.
Domaine Carrette Saint-Veran Les Mures 2022
​One would think with a name like Les Mures that it is in reference to blackberries growing near the vineyard, however, here the parcel’s name is in reference to a pre-Latin word Murr, a name for “prominent rock”, which here is a description for all the glacial moraine found in the vineyard. From a very old parcel in Davayé, the calcareous soil here, a majority of which is on a north facing slope, presents a Chardonnay full of intense flavor. Vinified in a combination of stainless steel and foudre with aging for 12 months before bottling, this serious Saint-Veran punches well above its price point. Enticing aromas of ripe orchard fruit and acacia blossom, rich and layered on the palate, culminating in a lingering finish, it is a perfect pairing with white fish in sauce or aged goat cheeses.
Picture
Domaine Carrette Pouilly Fuissé 1er Cru 2022
The Carrette’s have a wide holding of vineyards in both Vergisson and Solutré, with an average age of over 50 years old producing very high quality fruit. With harvest by hand and vinification in a combination of stainless steel, foudre, and barrique, Nathalie is able to craft an excellent expression of the calcareous clay soils. Fresh orchard fruits, white flowers, zesty lime, and a hint of sweet spices yield to a rich palate balanced with mineral tension in the finish. A candidate for best value White Burgundy in our portfolio, it makes an excellent partner for fish, white meats, or soft ripened cheeses.
Domaine Carrette Pouilly Fuissé Aux Charmes 2022
The Pouilly-Fuisse Aux Charmes, from a 0.9ha parcel in Vergisson on more heavy clay soils filled with small stones, yields a densely packed wine of impressive impact. The vines are 35 to 65 years old and planted along a gentle slope. Vinified in a combination of 228l and 500l barrique with a small portion of new, this beautifully structured Chardonnay shows notes of ripe stone fruit, toasted baguette, fresh butter, and hints of cinnamon and white pepper. Rich and layered, it will continue to harmonize in the next few years, however it would be delicious now with a chicken in cream sauce or blanquette de veau.
Domaine Carrette Pouilly Fuissé En Ronchevat 2021
​The Pouilly-Fuisse Ronchevat 2021 (the name is in reference to a field of uncleared shrubs) has more rock in the soil, highly conducive to growing lively chardonnay.  Vines are 35 to 65 years old, at 320 meters altitude, and are planted along a steep slope.  This wine is aged in oak (10% new) for 10 to 12 months, and shows notes of ripe fruit (peach, mango), toasted bread, fresh butter, and a hint of spice (cinnamon and white pepper). On the palate, the wine is powerful and beautifully structured, making it an ideal partner for richer fish (halibut, salmon), as well as a blanquette de veau (veal stew).