DOMAINE ÉRIC FOREST

Eric is a star vigneron, based in the village of Vergisson, and now has 6 hectares of vines planted between 1930 and 1979. He has inherited a great knowledge of nature and biodynamics from his grandfather and this has been a major influence in his approach to viticulture and winemaking. All grapes are handpicked and fermented and matured for ten to fifteen months in barriques and demimuids. The wines are hand bottled and are, usually, unfiltered. 

The Bourgogne Blanc comes from vines near Vergisson. His Mâcon-Vergisson is planted on soils of decalcified ferruginous clay with a bedrock of Bajocian limestone. This 400-metre-high, north-east exposed vineyard produces wines of great precision and minerality. 15% new oak. 

A TH favourite, the Macon Pierreclos “Clos des Charmes”: A stunning, steep, 1.5 hectare, walled monopole, facing due south on marne and limestone soils. 60% of the vines are nearly 100 years old and the remainder planted mostly in 1992. The wine sees 12 months in barrel (20% new) with no racking or batonnage, then 5 months in stainless steel. It is bottled without filtration. 

Saint-Véran “La Renommée” comes from a very steep hillside, which is an extension of the 1er Les Crays at the bottom of the valley. It is a very warm limestone terroir, sheltered from the winds and roasted by the sun. 20% New Oak. 

The Saint-Véran “Terre Noire” 100 year old vines on the southern slope in the north of Davayé. The top soil has 60cm of dark clay, underneath fractured white limestone rock. The tiny grapes give an extremely concentrated style. 20% New oak. 

Pouilly-Fuissé “L’AME Forest” comes from four vineyards, averaging 50 years old, on marne and very old limestone soils of decomposed oyster shells on the northern slope of the Vergisson hill. Elevage in 300 litre barrels, 20% new oak. 

Pouilly-Fuisse “La Roche”: Eric’s finest plot in Vergisson. A magnificent south-east facing vineyard at 401m (and hence not Premier Cru). It is very calcareous, on a base of cracked Bajocien limestone, giving a wine of exquisite saline minerality and lemony freshness, which characterises great white Burgundy. Very limited. 

“Les Crays” is situated on the warm, exposed southern side of the Vergisson hill and is planted on blue marl and limestone. The Pouilly-Fuisse “La Roche” is wonderfully tense, from a magnificent parcel at 401m on hard, compacted Bajocien limestone. Eris’s wines are full, rich, saline and minerally with great length and aging potential. 

Pouilly Fuissé “24 Carats” Eric’s wine with the most new oak, 75%. 70% of the grapes comes from Haut les Crays and 30% from La Roche.

www.ericforest.fr