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by Fred McMillin Black Robes, White WinesPrologue c. 700 A.D. --- Gastronomic Developments: Chopsticks introduced into Japan. Wine is in trouble in Europe. Followers of Mohammed overrun Armenia. They conquer Seville in Spain. Vines being uprooted. Nevertheless, black-robed Benedictine monks start the La Charite monestary at the eastern end of the Loire river. They will create the first and one of the best dry Sauvignon Blanc white wines on the planet, Pouilly-Fumé. The Rest of the Story Fumé (foo-may) refers to the striking aroma of the wine. It means "smoky." You may assign a different descriptor... "flinty" is common...but you'll agree that the aroma gets the wine off to an exciting start.
Today's Wine
1997 de Ladoucette Pouilly-Fumé, France Postscript What those monks started has affected wine lables today. It was Robert Mondavi's contact with Pouilly-Fumé that inspired him to re-name his slow-selling Sauvignon Blanc to what became his fast-selling Fumé Blanc. Today many vintners in many parts of the world use "Fumé" in naming their Sauvignon Blanc.
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