Wine with Intention: Pouilly-Fumé

From the mind of BIÂN Food & Beverage Director, Joseph Catterson

“Of the many wonderful styles of sauvignon blanc around the world, I'm always drawn back to the benchmark wines of the Loire Valley.

As ragingly popular as Sancerre has become, it's worth remembering what fantastic wines come from the appellation of Pouilly-Fumé on the other side of the river. A delicious wine from some of the best soils of the region, this bottle from the Marchands has lovely roundness and complexity. I tasted it Sunday afternoon with the smoked salmon toast from our weekend brunch menu; not surprisingly it was an easy and natural match. What did surprise me was how much I enjoyed it when I tried it again along with some of our sushi. Plenty of acid to cut through the fatty fish, plenty of richness to stand up to the most assertive flavors, and a nibble of pickled ginger elicited  an extra burst of bright tropical fruit. It is a truly refreshing and compelling wine.”