Pouilly-Fuissé 'AX-B' 2024, Domaine de la Chapelle

Premier Cru in disguise. Searching for a white Burgundy that delivers Premier Cru complexity at an accessible price point? The Pouilly-Fuissé 'AX-B' 2024 by Domaine de la Chapelle stands as the best-kept secret of the Mâconnais. The intriguing name 'AX-B' refers directly to the vineyard plot adjacent to and partially incorporating the famous Premier Cru Aux Bouthières. Sourced partly from this officially classified Premier Cru site and partly from its immediate extension, the quality in the glass speaks for itself.

In the glass, it reveals a bright golden-yellow hue with a luminous shine. The nose opens with a refined bouquet of bergamot, beeswax, fresh vanilla, dried citrus peel, toasted crème brûlée, and a subtle touch of smoky oak. On the palate, it is rich, intense, and mouth-coating, balanced by a crisp structural tension. Flavors of ripe yellow orchard fruit, a hint of smoke, and toasted hazelnut merge gracefully, driving into a long, saline, and mineral finish. The 2024 vintage showcases a Chablis-like freshness and focused mineral drive.

Key Highlights

• Terroir: 100% Chardonnay sourced partly from the official Premier Cru Aux Bouthières and its contiguous parcel in Pouilly-Fuissé (Mâconnais), rooted in limestone-rich soils at the base of the Solutré rock.
• Winemaking & Ageing: Cool-temperature fermentation followed by 12 months of maturation on fine lees, split between French oak barrels (30%) for subtle structure and stainless steel tanks (70%) to maintain mineral focus.
• Sustainability: Artisanal, small-scale viticulture executed under low-intervention principles, respecting soil biology and varietal authenticity.
• Tasting Profile: Rich, nutty, mineral, and focused. Notes of bergamot, beeswax, vanilla, crème brûlée, ripe yellow fruit, toasted oak, and a lingering saline finish.
• Ageing Potential: Highly expressive now, with the structural core and vibrant acidity to cellar gracefully over 5 to 10 years.

Food Pairing

• Poultry & Game: A majestic pairing for pheasant with porcini mushrooms, roasted Bresse chicken in cream sauce, pheasant ballotine, or seared veal cutlets.
• Fish & Seafood: Outstanding alongside smoked salmon, smoked trout, grilled langoustines, and poached fish in rich cream reductions.
• Earthy Dishes & Cheese: Excellent match for Jerusalem artichoke, wild mushroom tarts, and soft bloomy-rind cheeses like Brie de Meaux or Chaource.
• Serving Suggestion: Best served between 10°C and 12°C in generous Burgundy crystal glasses to allow its complex aromatics to unfold.

The Terroir of Aux Bouthières

The Aux Bouthières parcel perches on a favored slope at the foot of the iconic Roche de Solutré. Its subsoil of fragmented limestone and clay absorbs heat efficiently while providing natural moisture control. This endows Chardonnay vines with a harmony of rich, creamy texture, subtle nutty complexity, and a saline mineral finish.

About Domaine de la Chapelle

Guided by the charismatic Pascal Rollet, Domaine de la Chapelle is a benchmark estate on the wine lists of top bistros across southern Burgundy. Spanning a boutique 7.65 hectares in Pouilly, the estate produces terroir-driven white Burgundies, with the 'AX-B' serving as their flagship cuvée.