France — wine
Pouilly-Fumé
Across the Loire from Sancerre. The 'fumé' refers to silex (gunflint) soil — a smoky, struck-match minerality. Didier Dagueneau's Silex and Pur Sang are among the world's great Sauvignon Blancs. Now produced by son Louis-Benjamin after Didier's death in 2008. BC importer for Dagueneau: Skye Import [NEEDS VERIFICATION].
Benchmark products
Vintage assessments
| Year | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 87 | Very good. Good balance. Classic Loire Sauvignon Blanc mineral precision. |
| 2021 | — | Classic vintage; cool Loire conditions produced Pouilly-Fumé of excellent freshness and the characteristic chalk-gunflint mineral that distinguishes the appellation. |
| 2020 | — | Benchmark year; Louis-Benjamin Dagueneau and Bourgeois both produced wines of extraordinary depth; silex wines of 10+ year aging potential. |
| 2019 | 90 | Excellent Pouilly-Fumé. Dagueneau estate at extraordinary level. Silex soils delivering flint-mineral intensity. |
| 2018 | — | Outstanding vintage for mineral expression; silex parcels produced wines of exceptional gunflint character and longevity; approachable from 3 years. |