Winemaker Wednesday: Domaine des Fines Caillottes
Tell us about your property (how long it has been in your family, how long you have been making wine there, the size, any growing philosophy you might have):
Alain and Jérôme Pabiot, the son and grandson of Jean Pabiot, are 5th generation wine growers at Domaine des Fines Caillottes. Driven by a great love of their vineyards and wines, they do their utmost to ensure that each of their bottles brings as much enjoyment as possible.
The Domaine des Fines Caillottes, planted with the Sauvignon Blanc grape variety (known as “Blanc Fumé” in generations past), is cultivated with respect for tradition. We practice supervised vineyard disease protection and yield control. The Domaine covers 28 hectares (69 acres); it is situated on the best terroirs in the Pouilly-Fumé region, on vineyards parcels located near famous villages such as Les Loges, Pouilly-sur-Loire, Soumard and Saint-Laurent-l’Abbaye.
The Domaine des Fines Caillottes is made up of 30 parcels, located on varied terroirs, usually of clay-limestone. The “caillottes”, from which the Domaine gets its name, are found on the plateaus. Caillottes are a large concentration of white limestone pebbles. The slopes, often south or south-east facing, are predominantly limestone, with fossilized stones (known as marls with small oysters) and composed of ammonites or occasionally with flint.
Our “La Merisière” Sancerres come from excellent terroirs in the Sancerre region, particularly those on the hillsides of Chavignol and Sury-en-Vaux. Limestones soils with “caillottes” or flint are particurlaly well suited to the two local grape varieties: the Sauvignon Blanc for the whites, and the Pinot Noir for the reds and rosés.
What is your favorite vintage and cuvee from your own property and why?
Our favorite vintage, despite that we liked very much the others, was the Pouilly-Fumé 2002, especially the “Cuvée Prestige des Fines Caillottes” 2002. This vintage showed very intense tropical fruit aromas, with wonderful density and balance. Even now in 2011, this cuvee is still a lovely wine, with a beautiful freshness and aromas of ripe
fruits.
When you are not drinking your own wines, what are you drinking? What other wines, beers, etc. do you enjoy?
We enjoy many wines, from different countries, they must be well balanced, concentrated and aromatic. Great white Burgundies, some Chinon, Saint-Emilion at least Grand Cru,
Sangiovese from Tuscany are some of our favorite wines.
What is your favorite food and what wine would you pair it with?
Some of our favorite foods: A fish (for example a bass, a pike) cooked in a white wine sauce that we would pair with a Saint-Aubin, or a Pouilly-Fumé. Also a rare rib of beef with a Saint-Emilion Grand Cru or a Sangiovese.