2023 Domaine Regis Minet Vieilles Vignes Pouilly-Fume 750 ml

The Wall Street Journal tasted through a bevy of Pouilly-Fumé, calling it “a French Sauvignon Blanc we should be drinking more often.” Their top pick? Régis Minet’s beautifully nuanced bottling, which they called “an outstanding expression” of the grape.

With 40 vintages under his belt, Minet has well over 70,000+ hours (by star importer Kermit Lynch’s calculations) farming and vinifying Sauvignon Blanc from one of the most prized corners of the Loire. That’s a rare level of mastery and expertise.

Pouilly-Fumé takes its name from the smokiness (fumé) of the wine—though it’s more like a hint of fireworks than a campfire. Régis Minet’s vineyards sit up above the river at 750 feet of elevation, perfectly situated in the soils that make the area famous.

Minet’s Pouilly-Fumé focuses Sauvignon Blanc’s personality through a prism of elegance, with an inviting texture and beautiful aromas of lemon and lime zest mix with river rocks, fresh white flowers, and a touch of wild sage, leading to a palate that’s all about precision. It’s mouthwatering, with the perfect amount of edge and just the right amount of creamy texture. 

Minet ferments the wine on native yeast (for complexity) entirely in stainless steel tanks, which preserves its bright fruit. He then ages the wine on its lees for six months, stirring occasionally to build in the perfect level of richness.

All that’s left is to drink this special wine. But if you leave a couple bottles in the cellar, don’t worry—they will age delightfully.