The Ronchevats gains in rich, round, fat flavors from the rich clay soil. Vines in this plot are 60 years on average.
Powerful and warm wine offering quince and sweet fruit aromas. Thick and toasty. Rich and well textured.
Bresse Chicken (blue footed chicken) cooked in a creamy sauce with porcini mushrooms (Poulet de Bresse sauce aux capes)
"The 2020 Pouilly-Fuissé Les Ronchevats, which comes from Triassic clay soils, has a slightly more honeyed bouquet and as such, maybe does not quite transfer the terroir as much as the Domaine's other cuvées. The palate is actually better than the nose, quite saline and energetic, very focused with a lovely bitter edge emerging towards the finish. Maybe the aromatics will up their game in bottle? Give it a couple of years. - Neal Martin"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (August 2022), 90+ pts
"(from southwest-facing vines on soil rich in clay, with clumps of calcaire; done in fûts, including a bit of new oak): Bright medium yellow. Expressive, perfumed aromas of peachy fruit salad and spicy oak. Quite rich and thick but also vibrant and alive, with its subtle peachy high tones framed by bracing citrussy acidity. Needs time in bottle to harmonize and knit. This is not a particularly mineral site, according to Christine Saumaize. Incidentally, the family's 2016 Le Haut des Crays was scheduled to be bottled in November. - Stephen Tanzer"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (November 2017), 91 pts
Go To Saumaize-Michelin Pouilly-Fuisse Ronchevats
"Bright yellow. Knockout aromas of peach, apricot and crushed lime leaf are complicated by solaire notes of marzipan and honeycomb. Then very ripe and sweet on the palate but with an element of warmth (these 2015s are in the 14% alcohol range) shaving the topnotes off the wine's flavors. Finishes slightly bitter-edged and tannic, suggesting harder grape skins. - Stephen Tanzer"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (November 2017), 90 pts
Go To Saumaize-Michelin Pouilly-Fuisse Ronchevats
"(this wine finished its malo and had been racked on the morning of my visit): Healthy light yellow. Perfumed aromas of white peach, lemon, lime and acacia flower. Densely packed and seamless, with its lively fruit flavors framed by integrated acidity; very white fruit for the year. Tightens up on the back end, finishing a bit youthfully aggressive. This and the following 2015s were done entirely in pièces, 10% to 15% of them new. Saumaize noted that this vineyard on clay-based soil is more sensitive to drought in theory, but that he had less passerillage and a normal crop in 2015--and better than his yields on rocky soil. - Stephen Tanzer"
- Vinous (October 2016), 89-91 pts
Go To Saumaize-Michelin Pouilly-Fuisse Ronchevats
"(from a south-facing vineyard planted on bluish-green compact clay): Precise but subdued aromas of pineapple, lemon peel, orange zest and flowers, plus a suggestion of white truffle. Very suave and fine-grained, showing superb inner-mouth energy and floral lift to the delicate lemon and orange flavors. Still youthfully imploded but already conveys terrific fruit intensity. Not an exuberant style but silky, saline and deep. The alcohol here is a natural 13.5%. - Stephen Tanzer"
- Vinous (December 2015), 90-92 pts
Go To Saumaize-Michelin Pouilly-Fuisse Ronchevats
"Rich, with peach, apple, lemon cake and spice flavors, yet also bracing and taut. Leans toward tartness in the balance, but ends with fruit and spice notes. Best from 2017 through 2020. 250 cases made. –BS"
- Wine Spectator (June 30th 2016), 90 pts
Go To Saumaize-Michelin Pouilly-Fuisse Ronchevats
"This was also strongly reduced and unreadable. This is even richer and more generous than the Vignes Blanches with the same fleshy character to the mouth feel though in this case there is better precision and length as well as a bit better overall depth."
Allen Meadows' Burgound.com, 89-91 pts
Go To Saumaize-Michelin Pouilly-Fuisse Ronchevats
"The 2011 Pouilly-Fuisse Les Ronchevats has an out-going bouquet with vivacious citrus fruit lined with hints of coconut and marzipan, while maintaining fine delineation. The palate is crisp and poised on the entry with a keen citric thread, although the finish is a little stern and needs a touch more fruite. I would be inclined to leave this 12 months in bottle since there is impressive substance. - NM"
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #208, August 2013), 88 pts
Go To Saumaize-Michelin Pouilly-Fuisse Ronchevats
Saumaize-Michelin was founded in 1977, when Roger Saumaize received 4 hectares of vineyards from his father. Roger had grown up in the vineyards and began working them at age 14. ...
Read More