Joseph Mellot Pouilly-Fumé Les Grands Edvins

Description

Joseph Mellot Pouilly-Fumé Les Grands Edvins is a Cuvée Prestige, a fantastic lees-aged Sauvignon Blanc. It is the sister wine to the fabulous Sancerre La Grande Chatelaine.

Domain Joseph Mellot was established in 1513 by Pierre Etienne Mellot and remains in the Mellot family to this day. The estate is currently under the stewardship of Catherine Corbeau Mellot who found herself in the role after the tragic death of her husband, Alexandre Mellot, in 2005. Domaine Joseph Mellot is one of the most historic wine companies in the Loire, certainly one of the most prestigious and has been key in developing vino-tourism in the region. As well as vineyards in Sancerre, they also own vineyards in Menetou Salon and Pouilly Fume. Mellot also own two other domains in the Loire. They are Domaine Jean-Michel Sorbe acquired in 1999, who has vineyards in Quincy and Reuilly and Domaine Pierre Duret acquired in 1995 and is also located in Quincy. All vineyard processes are carried out in an environmentally conscious manner, adapted for each terroir.

The Sauvignon Blanc grapes for Joseph Mellot Pouilly-Fumé Les Grands Edvins come from vines planted on red clay and flint soils in the village of Saint-Andelain. The vineyard covers some 2.4 hectares and the vines have an average age of 30 years old.

Vinification and ageing for a minimum of 12 months takes place in Joseph Mellot’s centuries-old cellars in the heart of Sancerre. The grapes are mechanically harvested and undergo a gentle pressing. The wine is fermented in fine-grained oak barrels sourced from local forests. The wine is aged for 11 months in barrel with regular lees stirring to impart more complexity and character. The wine is then left to rest in vat for another 10 months. After gentle filtering, the wine is bottled.

Around 3,000 bottles of Joseph Mellot Pouilly-Fumé Les Grands Edvins are produced each year.

Joseph Mellot was the first domain in the Central Loire Valley to obtain ISO 14001 certification and BRC A accreditation. Today all of its vineyards are cultivated according to the principles of sustainable agriculture.