Chateau des Quarts
History
Château des Quarts is a small but prestigious estate in Chaintré, at the southern edge of Pouilly-Fuissé, built around the Clos des Quarts, a rare walled monopole vineyard planted exclusively to Chardonnay, with some vines dating back to 1917. The site’s east-facing slope overlooking the Saône Valley has long been recognized for its exceptional potential, leading winemaker Olivier Merlin to vinify the grapes from 2003 before formally acquiring the clos in 2012 with his friend Dominique Lafon, one of Burgundy’s most respected vignerons. Together, they created Château des Quarts to focus entirely on expressing this singular terroir, producing finely balanced, age-worthy white wines made at Merlin’s cellar in La Roche-Vineuse. The vineyard’s quality was officially acknowledged when Clos des Quarts was granted Pouilly-Fuissé Premier Cru status from the 2020 vintage, confirming its place among the elite sites of the Mâconnais.
Farming and Philosophy
Farmed with strong emphasis on precision, sustainability, and respect for the vineyard, reflecting the shared philosophy of Olivier Merlin and Dominique Lafon. The Clos des Quarts is worked parcel by parcel, with careful soil management to preserve microbial life and encourage deep root systems in the old vines. Chemical inputs are avoided as much as possible, yields are kept deliberately low, and harvests are done entirely by hand to ensure optimal ripeness and freshness. In the cellar, the approach is deliberately restrained: indigenous yeasts, gentle pressing, long élevage on fine lees, and a judicious use of oak are employed to enhance texture and complexity without masking terroir. The overarching philosophy is to let the clos speak for itself, producing wines defined by clarity, balance, and age-worthiness rather than power or overt winemaking signatures.
