Francis Blanchet Pouilly Fume Cuvee Silice 2022

If you hear your swirly, sniffy friends discussing the topic of minerality in wine and find yourself wondering what rock they crawled out from under (or licked, as the case may be), this is a wine that will make it all come clear. Take a cue from the name, fume -- smoke -- and you'll start to get the idea. Located in the eastern portion of the Loire Valley, the Sauvignon Blanc grown in the rocky soils here has smoky, streamlined flintiness that's thoroughly present in the 2009 from Francis Blanchet. Pair this bottle with some oysters baked with a little cream and shaved gruyere, and topped with smoked bacon.