2023 Pouilly-Fumé, Domaine Serge Dagueneau et Filles

Valérie Dagueneau is the fourth generation to run this 21-hectare estate located in the hamlet of Les Berthiers. Brought up on the domaine, and cousin of the late Didier Dagueneau, whose domaine lies a ten-minute walk away, Valérie has always been passionate about winemaking, earning her viticultural degree, and then spending a season in the US before returning to Pouilly. She initially took over the day-to-day running of the family domaine with her sister in the mid-1990s, but has been on her own (since Florence’s untimely death) since 2010. We have been shipping her wines to the UK for more than 20 years, consistently appreciating the purity and clarity of Valérie’s winemaking style. The domaine is mostly located on chalky, kimmeridgian marl soils, with some lying on a small vein of flint. Respect for the natural environment whilst striving for quality is core to Valérie’s approach, and the property now has High Environmental Value certification (HEV), with – amongst other things - ploughing, no chemical weeding and biocontrol having been integrated into vineyard management.