The Reigning Champion: Why Baron de L. Pouilly Fumé 2003 de Ladoucette is the Ultimate Sauvignon Blanc
It may be a trivial statement, but the Baron de L. Pouilly Fumé 2003 de Ladoucette is one of the best Sauvigno Blancs we have ever tasted in our lives.
It has it all: body, sidereal mineral depth, and infinite length that takes part in the detail to launch into a fresco of poignant beauty.
But above all, it is a Sauvignon Blanc that is not massaged and pumped by wood; it is all made and aged in steel, and therefore the green notes, the rocks, the flowers, and the perfumes are sharp. Of course it allows itself roundness and opulence, but it does so with a cheeky and scathing attitude, never falling into coarse acidity.
Is it the ultimate Sauvignon Blanc, the best of all time?
Big words in wine, but without a doubt, it is a wine born in specific conditions and ready to challenge the decades, and we are not afraid to define it as one of the great myths of the white Loire and certainly one of the most charismatic representatives of the Sauvignons of the small village of Pouilly.
He doesn’t bat an eyelid, even after 12 years spent sleeping in the cellar. It still has a force that penetrates your palate with jabs of ice and plaster, but it does it gracefully; it seduces you, caresses you, and is not limited to arrogance. No, it opens up in a thousand flavors, evolving scents that envelope you, creating a unique symphony.
How it is produced
Produced only in extraordinary vintages. The grapes come from the hills around Pouilly, where predominantly clayey soils attract heat during the day and release it at night.
Great temperature range and very slow maturation. Precisely for this reason, the taste of this wine is extraordinary. The length and complexity come from a prolonged and constant maturation, even in a fairly hot year.
As always, the Loire, refreshed by currents of cold air, avoids the baking effect of the grapes. Fermentation and aging in steel.
Organoleptic characteristics
Sparkling golden-yellow color. The nose is very green and mineral; it is a thorny plot where endless flowers bloom. Mint and sage instantly smack you in the face as it caresses you with more opulent tones of tropical origin.
The fruit is pulpy and candied but not yielding; it maintains precision and does not let go. Honey, beeswax, and incense. The evolved perfumes are incredible.
On the palate, it is broad, sumptuous in its pace, and very fresh, but as mentioned, it opens up in a myriad of green and salty facets. Even though the look is always stubborn and doesn’t give in to the pleasing softness, the balance and harmony are perfect.
Price
The 2003 vintage costs 200 euros, but you can buy new vintages for 80–85 euros, and the price is excellent, even as an investment bottle. Over time, it revalues without problems, so much so that after 10 years, it already manages to grow by 50%.
Pairings
Vitello tonnato, spaghetti with clams, pumpkin tortelli alla Mantovana, rice spaghetti with prawns and vegetables, herb ravioli alla Parmigiana, risotto with truffles, spaghetti alla carbonara, and pad thai.
