2007 Louis Latour Pouilly-Fuissé

Allow myself to introduce myself...je'mappelle Pouilly-Fuissé.

Rating: Solid, lively intro to white Burgundy.  Great bottle to bring to a friend's house for pre-dinner.  $18-ish.



The rest of the story:  One of the great things about French wine - especially white - is that most US consumers don't know jack shit about it.  What's so great about that?  Well, to some degree it helps keep prices in check, but it also means you can make quite an impression on a dinner host without breaking the bank.  (Take that, Martha.) 

When was the last time someone brought you a French white?

Maison Latour is, if not the best known négociant in Burgundy - perhaps all of France, certainly one of the most respected.  Selling wines ranging from budget mass-produced whites to ultra-premium tiny block red Burgundies, their products have long been a cornerstone of French wine presence in the US.

The 2007 Pouilly-Fuissé is platinum blond with a tinge of green in the glass.  Crisp color and luminescence.  Light on the nose with balanced citrus and chalky aromas.  On the palate it's lively - almost jumpy - and crisp with lots of green fruit.  It's not encumbered by mineral weight, but the minerals are pleasantly present. 

The aftertaste is long, but not complex the way the more highfalutin white Burgundies can be.  All in all, though, it tastes just like what it is: a solid intro to white Burgundy and representative of how differently French winemakers treat Chardonnay from their American counterparts.

We believe that empirical evidence trumps analysis.  And this wine was a fast mover during our tasting; very easy to drink - and enjoy.

We paid $15.99 for it, but have seen it more often priced around $20.  Widely available.