Vines are 60 years old, planted at 9,000 vines/ha, yielding 40hl/ha. The highest altitude area in Pouilly-Fuissé, a clay-limestone soil region. Premier Cru, barrel fermentation, MLF, aged for 18 months (new and old barrels). No fining agents used. The history of this domaine began in 1987 when the owner, Olivier Meurlan, who studied winemaking in Jura and California, purchased and inherited the historic Domaine "Domaine des Vieux Saint-Sorlin", which has been in existence since the Middle Ages in the Maconnais region. The Maconnais region is higher in altitude than the Cote d'Or, and the steeply sloping fields are characterized by strong winds. 95% of producers in the Maconnais region spray herbicides and harvest by hand, but Meurlan has never used chemical fertilizers or herbicides from the beginning to the present, and plows the fields frequently. This is one of the few domaines that selects and hand-picks fully ripe, healthy grapes. Grapes grown on windy slopes are less likely to attract pests, so there is no need to spray pesticides. The grapes are harvested in small boxes to avoid damaging them before fermentation, and the grapes are selected again on a selection table, then quickly placed in fermentation tanks for fermentation. Chardonnay is fermented whole, while Pinot Noir is 100% destemmed (Gamay is fermented whole bunch). Complete malolactic fermentation, no collage, no filtering or minimal filtering before bottling. Olivier, who carefully crafts his wines by hand, has confirmed his position as a leader among high-quality wineries in the Maconnais region. Olivier, who knows the region well long before winemakers from the Cote d'Or even ventured into the Maconnais region, has trained many winemakers, including Raphael, the fourth generation owner of Domaine Coche-Dury. Master of Wine Jasper Morris has also introduced Olivier as one of the best winemakers representing the Maconnais region. In 2012, he also established a new winery, Chateau des Cars, with Dominique, the owner of Comte Lafon, a top Meursault domaine. His two sons, Theo and Paul, are now also involved in the domaine, and expectations are high for further improvements in quality in the future.
[The unique character of the Mâcon region, according to Domaine Merlant]
● Mâcon-La Roche-Vineuse
...Minerality, saltiness, freshness
●Pouilly-Fuissé
...Long aftertaste, powerful, long-term aging type
●Saint-Veran
...Feminine, smooth, fruity