Pouilly Fumé Les Terres Blanches, Jolivet

The Pouilly Fumé Les Terres Blanches from Pascal Jolivet shows what the appellation can achieve on its best subsoil: The eponymous Terres Blanches — white marl made of clay and limestone — shape the wine with a dense minerality that goes far beyond the typical.

Pascal Jolivet is one of the most reliable addresses in the Loire Valley. His focus is on site-specific work and the expression of the terroir — the winery is organic. In Pouilly Fumé, located opposite Sancerre on the right bank of the Loire, Sauvignon Blanc is the only permitted grape variety. The Terres Blanches sites are considered particularly expressive: the light soil stores heat, gives the wine fullness, and simultaneously sharpens the fruit.

In the glass, grapefruit, white currant, and a hint of gooseberry appear — embedded in a clear, vibrant acidity. The finish is long, salty-mineral with a typical smoky hint that connoisseurs associate with the term “Fumé.” Not an opulent, but a precise wine.

Served at 10–12 °C, it pairs well with goat cheese from the Loire (Crottin de Chavignol is the classic combination), with scallops with butter, or a simple plate of oysters.