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Mission Codename: For Love Of Tradition

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Acquire a limited production and exclusive Pouilly-Fuissé

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Olivier Larochette

Wine Subject: 2008 Pouilly-Fuissé ‘Tradition’

Winemaker: Olivier Larochette

Backgrounder: Pouilly-Fuissé, located on the southern end of the Mâconnais (about 25 miles south of Beaune) is an ancient winegrowing region it a history that dates back nearly 1600 years. While there are no premier crus in the Pouilly-Fuissé or its satellite appellations, some of the region’s climats are very highly regarded for exceptional Chardonnay. Most notably Pouilly-Fuissé is pale, crisp and refreshing with the best producers creating wines with rich flavors and firmer structures.

Today’s selection is made from Chardonnay vines that are 20-35 years old with and grown in a traditional high density vineyard.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Bright golden yellow with brilliant clarity and golden honey reflections in its heart. The color pales slightly on the edge and when swirled slow fat legs hang for a moment before falling to the wine below.

Smell – Bright fruit including tangy citrus, quince and tart tree fruit; add to this white and orange blossom, spice and a hint of yeasty biscuit.

Feel – Full-bodied, well structured with vibrant tart acidity and crisp flinty minerality that frames the fruit and leaving a tartness that lingers into the finish.

Taste – Full of flavors of tart citrus including grapefruit and Meyers lemon, tart peach, and some tropical melon and quince blend with hints of characteristic orange blossom honey and white and orange blossom floral notes that adds fresh and vibrant complexity. A subtle hint of spice also tingles on the tip of the tongue

Finish – Long, clean and crisp this wine’s tart fruit and vibrant acidity mingling with flinty minerality as the tree and citrus fruits fade.

Conclusion – The 2008 Olivier Larochette Pouilly-Fuissé Tradition is a fantastic wine that shows the pure character of Chardonnay wonderfully. Unblemished by any oak, this 100% stainless Chardonnay shoes bright and vibrant fruit from start to finish. Its bright acidity and minerality makes this wine perfect for food pairing or enjoying on a warm spring afternoon.

Mission Report:

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WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER

SUBJECT: Olivier Larochette

WINE EDUCATION: Lycé Viticole Davayé 1985/1987.

WINE JOB BRIEF: Started in 1989 to be a simple producer on a very small estate. My first vintage was 1992, I created my own brand Domaine Larochette-Manciat, I started to sell my production abroad in 1993. Step by step the estate grew up until 2002. I was the manager and the wine maker of Domaine Larochette-Manciat, selling all my production over several countries, US, UK, JAPAN, HOLLAND, BELGIUM…

In 2003, I took over the estate from my ex family in law, which was Domaine Manciat Poncet until 2007. I have been the manager and the wine maker for the two brands, selling also in Canada, Denmark, Sweden…In 2007 I got divorced and I sold my part of the property to my ex wife. I started again in at the end of 2008 a new company on my own name : Olivier Larochette. I don’t produce any grape now, I take advantage of my knowledge and my excellent relationship with my ex-colleagues, all of them are friends that I know from primary school. I select my grapes amongst the best terroirs from the best producers all over Maconnais’s area. I got a “coup de Coeur” on the 2011 HACHETTE GUIDE for my selection of VIRÉ-CLESSÉ 2007.

I’m working now on the development of my new brand, I got stated again in USA, Canada, Denmark with new distributors.

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: I work with people I know perfectly, I need to trust people and that people trust me as well. On that way it’s easier to find agreement with producers who respect the nature by using as less as possible of chemical on vines. Some of them are approved as organic producers. My way of thinking is to always propose the very best quality at the very best price.
We are parts belonging to the same chain, we have to work together in order to make this chain working, from the producer up to the final consumer.

FIRST COMMERCIAL WINE RELEASE: Pouilly-Fuissé 1992

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WINEMAKER INTERVIEW

AGENT WHITE: Greetings, Olivier. We are thrilled to be showing your 2008 Poulley-Fuisse ‘Tradition’ today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.

OLIVIER: Thank you for featuring my lovely wine.

WHITE: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?

OLIVIER: I was born in 1967 in the Pouilly-Fuissé’s area. A part of my family were producers. When I was a teenager, I used to work in vines with my grand-fathers and uncles as a summer job. I really loved this time, working outdoor and seeing buds becoming leaves and grapes, it was a kind of magic in that! It’s also a question of flavors, blossoms of the grapes have a so delicate perfume… The smell of the freshly cut grapes arriving in the press machine, and the smell of fresh pressed juice are such amazing. The following stages with the atmosphere of fermenting juices were also great moments. I have been in this world for ever, It belongs to me and I belong to it.

WHITE: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?

OLIVIER: I don’ think I got influenced by any style. I was born at the place, I could have been born in Chile or South Africa, I brought my personality and my sensibility to my wines. I love wines from all over the world…as long as they are well done of course.

WHITE: Who do you make wine for?

OLIVIER: I work now alone and only for myself in the wine business.
I’m also part of my time a filterer and adviser for some very well known estates in Pouilly-Fuissé’s area. Some of these people trust my experience of a wine maker and ask me to give the final touch to their products, but I can’t make advertisement for them, I hope you will understand.

WHITE: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.

OLIVIER: This wine is a 100% stainless still tank. It’s a 50/50% blend between grapes from the southern part of the Pouilly-Fuissé area which brings fruitiness and roundness, with grapes coming from the northern part of this area which brings minerality freshness. The association of these two terroirs is very interesting regarding the complexity we can get.

About the technique of fermentation, I have been working 20 years on a very personal process of temperature control. On each stage of fermentation I adapt a very precise temperature, so I can extract the best potential of each stage.

The wine is matured about 12 months in stainless still tanks before the filtration. I always do the filtration myself. This the last job before bottling, may be one of the most important along all the process.

It’s actually the conclusion of 2 years of hard work : I mean it takes 1 year to grow the grapes and one more year to change them in wine, so you understand how this stage is important. If it’s not done with perfectionnism and sensibility, you can just destroy and waste 2 years of intense efforts!

This Pouilly-Fuissé Tradition is a pure and typical 2008. It is now well open and shows many flavours of fresh fruits like juicy pears, yellow peach and a touch of honey. In the mouth we discover a frank and clean attack, developing afterwards a delicate minerality, ripeness and ending on a refreshing note of citrus fruit

WHITE: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?

OLIVIER: This wine is perfect when it’s served at about 12/14° C as an aperitif. It’s now proposed by the glass in many restaurants all over the US.It matches well with a lot of dishes like fish, shell fish, it shows itself so fresh and easy with cheese…

WHITE: In your opinion, what makes the Poulley-Fuisse so special?

OLIVIER: Well this region is made of hundreds of small plots and almost as much different wine makers. The soil is uniquw and the knowledge is transmitted with pride and secrete from one generation to the next one. Each generation tries to improve what the previous generation has done, but with a lot of respect. I believe that this appellation will surprise us again for many years.

WHITE: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?

OLIVIER: In the winery, it’s a bit more quiet. The malolatic fermentation is ending. Wines in barrels still need to be stirred once a week, some analysis are necessary to be sure that everything is going well.

We have started the bottling of the 2010 Mâcon-Villages. This vintage is just fabulous! This is one of my very favorite vintage, so bright, crispy, fruity and fresh. I bet that our customers will adore it. So far I’m especially proud of my Viré-Clessé 2010.

WHITE: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?

OLIVIER: I propose a range of wines, each one has its own personality. I believe you will probably find one that you especially like. I suggest to take it easy, relax, it’s pleasure! and only that!

WHITE: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

OLIVIER: It’s very important for me to have back the feeling of my consumers. Their satisfaction feeds my passion!

WHITE: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The approximate location of the Pouilly-Fuissé can be seen in this satellite photo.