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domaine-jacques-saumaize

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Domaine Jacques Saumaize

Overview

Domaine Jacques Saumaize (now run by Jacques and his son Anthony) is one of the top estates in Pouilly-Fuissé, based in Vergisson. The domaine specializes in single vineyard bottlings from around the Roche de Vergisson and Roche de Solutré, including some of the most precisely mineral wines in the entire Mâconnais. John Gilman considers “le Haut de la Roche” — planted on extremely thin topsoils at the base of the Roche de Vergisson — among the finest expressions of the appellation, evoking the classic single vineyard Pouilly-Fuissé of the late 1980s (e.g. André Forest’s Les Crays).

Appellations

Key Wines

Pouilly-Fuissé

  • “le Haut de la Roche” — 50yo vines; base of Roche de Vergisson; extremely thin topsoils; 94 pts (2023), 2025–2050. “This reminds me a bit of the old bottlings from André Forest.”
  • “les Creuzettes” — Solutré flank; 50–60yo vines; 93+ pts (2023), 2025–2050
  • “les Courtelongs” — high altitude; easterly exposition; 65yo vines; Solutré; 93 pts (2023), 2027–2045; 93 pts (2022), 2025–2040
  • “la Marechaude” 1er Cru — only premier cru in the lineup; 93 pts (2023), 2025–2040
  • “les Vieilles Vignes” — blended cuvée; 93 pts (2023), 2025–2040
  • “Sur la Roche” 1er Cru — 93 pts (2022), 2025–2040
  • “les Croux” — 92 pts (2023), 2025–2035
  • “Vieilles Vignes” — blended; 20% new oak; 92+ pts (2022), 2025–2040+

Saint-Véran

  • “les Cras” — 85yo vines on chalky plateau; 20% new oak; 93 pts (2023), 2025–2040+
  • “la Vieille Vigne” — 50+yo vines; 20% new oak; 93 pts (2023), 2025–2040; 92 pts (2022), 2025–2035+
  • “Châtaigniers” — ~20yo vines; 92 pts (2023); 91 pts (2022)
  • “En Crêches” — 15–35yo vines; stainless steel; 91 pts (2023)

Mâcon-Vergisson

  • “Sur la Roche” — 13.5%; native yeasts; 91+ pts (2023)

Style Notes

The house style is mineral-driven and precise, with wines of excellent structural integrity and chalky backbone. Native yeasts are used where noted. New oak is used judiciously — single vineyard premier and vieilles vignes cuvées typically see 20% new oak; the entry-level wines see none. The finest single vineyard wines (le Haut de la Roche, les Courtelongs, les Creuzettes) reward 5–10 years of cellaring.

My Tastings

(none yet)

Sources

  • sources/articles/VFTC/VFTC March-April 2025 #116.txt (pp. 28–32, 34–36)

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