DOMAINE ÉRIC FOREST

Eric is a star vigneron, based in the village of Vergisson, and currently has 4.8 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 hand picked and fermented and matured for ten to fifteen months in barriques and demi-muids. The wines are hand bottled and are, usually, unfiltered.

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.

Mâcon Vergisson “Sur la Roche” 400m, 30-35 year old vines, north-east exposure with some clay and a bedrock of limestone. Elevage in 300 litre barrels, 15% new. The coolest and last vineyard to be picked.

The Pouilly Fuissé “L’Âme Forest” is a blend of two complementary, individual vineyards – “Les Tilliers” is planted on calcareous Sinemurian clay soils and ” La Côte” is on Toarcian marl-limestone soils, located on the northern slope of the Vergisson hill. Elevage in 300 litre barrels, 20% new oak. Pouilly Fuissé 1er Cru ‘Les Crays‘ Seven different parcels, averaging 55 years old, planted on the warmer, southern side of the Vergisson hill on blue marl and limestone. Elevage in pieces, 25% new. The resulting wines are full, rich and minerally with great length and aging potential. The 2020 is the first vintage where certain, favoured Pouilly-Fuisse sites have been designated as Premier Cru; in the case of Eric Forest, this applies to Les Crays. Pouilly Fuissé. Pouilly Fuissé “La Roche”, from a magnificent parcel of south-east facing vines at 401m (the limit for the impending 1er Cru classification is 400m) on hard, compacted Bajocien limestone. According to Eric, they are the most expressive grapes he grows in Vergisson.

www.ericforest.fr