2024 Château Vitallis Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru "Pouilly"

*Decanter Best in Show World Wine Awards 2026* Like Chablis and the Côte d’Or, the Mâconnais had a tough (and sodden) time of it over the course of the 2024 vintage, but it did have an ace up its sleeve: August here was warmer and sunnier than elsewhere in Burgundy (328 hours of sunshine was significantly above its long-term average), and that put the wines of this sub-region on a firmer foundation than elsewhere. In any case, Pouilly-Fuissé usually delivers some of Bourgogne's ripest white wines every year. This Premier Cru version (only the second Best In Show appearance for a Pouilly-Fuissé) has assurance and wealth to it, indeed even a little appealing baby fat. There are delicious hazels and peach fruits apparent on the aroma, and the flavours are rich, sapid, vinous and structured, with appetising melon and peach generosity. The vintage adds an undertow of vivacious acidity relatively rare in recent years in Pouilly-Fuissé, too, lending the wine additional poise and drinkability.