📜 Pouilly-Loché

Pouilly-Loché is a French protected designation of origin (AOC, PDO) for dry still white wine from the Mâconnais in southern Burgundy. It has been in the EU register since 18 September 1973.

The wines have a minimum natural alcoholic strength of 11% vol, and after enrichment the total strength may not exceed 13.5% vol. Finished wines may contain at most 3 grams per litre of fermentable sugars, or 4 grams per litre if the total acidity is at least 55.10 milliequivalents per litre. The use of wood chips is forbidden.

The only variety listed is Chardonnay. Vines are planted at a minimum density of 8,000 per hectare, with rows at most 1.40 metres apart. Permitted pruning systems include Royat cordon, Guyot and the Mâconnais ‘queue’ pruning, with limits on buds per vine for each system.

The maximum yield is 60 hectolitres per hectare, with an upper limit of 70 hl/ha. Grapes are harvested, and the wines made and aged, within the commune of Mâcon in the Saône-et-Loire department. The specification notes that this territory is the former commune of Loché, which merged with Mâcon.

The appellation was recognised by decree in 1940, after a court judgment of 1931 for the name Pouilly-Loché. The production area is about thirty hectares, which the specification describes as one of the smallest. The label may carry the terms ‘Clos’ and ‘Château’.