History
Origins around 1040
La Poussie traces its origins at least to the period of the Capetian monarchy. A document dated to approximately 1040 provides the estate’s earliest cited historical evidence.
Honoré de Balzac and the reputation of Sancerre
At an unspecified later date, Honoré de Balzac wrote about the vineyards of the Sancerrois. He portrayed the area as a source of generous wines comparable to those of Burgundy and noted their rapid consumption in Parisian cabarets. His account reflects the established reputation of the vineyards overlooking the Loire.
Acquisition in 1993
Baron Patrick de Ladoucette acquired La Poussie’s three Sancerre wines in 1993. The portfolio comprised a Sauvignon white, a Pinot Noir rosé and a Pinot Noir red. Under his ownership, the emphasis has remained on continuity, preservation of the estate’s established identity and maintenance of quality.
Terroir
La Poussie lies within the Sancerrois, among vineyards overlooking the Loire Valley. Its explicitly identified geological feature is clay-limestone terrain. Sauvignon grown on this terrain forms the basis of the estate’s white Sancerre, while separate parcels of Pinot Noir supply its rosé and red wines.
Winemaking
The estate produces three expressions within the Sancerre appellation. Sauvignon is used for the white wine. Pinot Noir from dedicated parcels is used for rosé, while selected Pinot Noir grapes are reserved for the red wine.
Philosophy
La Poussie presents continuity as a central principle: preserving the integrity of its established identity while maintaining the quality of its three Sancerre expressions. Since acquiring them in 1993, Baron Patrick de Ladoucette has pursued this emphasis across the white, rosé and red wines.