This is bursting with floral freshness. As always, Luc says it showed the best balance between acidity and pH in the cellar, meaning the wine tastes vibrant and fresh without being overly bracing and acidic. Pieuchaud is a flinty-soiled lieu-dit in the commune of Thauvenay in the south-east of the Sancerre appellation. Luc decided to isolate this vineyard after noting it always produced fruit with great maturity whilst maintaining that high acidity - the secret to single vineyard wines in his opinion. It is saline and savoury with layers of mineral tension, making it an excellent food wine with plenty of ageing potential.

This is quite rightly Sancerre’s most celebrated site. It's a dramatic slope of Kimmeridgian terres blanches in Chavignol that wraps around the hillside and dips down into the commune of Verdigny, where Luc’s parcel lies. It is a truly magnificent and ageworthy example of Sancerre. The balance of power, racy acidity, and fruit length in this wine are simply captivating. Deep and layered. As ever, don't be afraid to cellar this, it will only improve.

This is an exciting, quite recent addition to our Claude Riffault offering. Like Denisottes, this is a single vineyard cuvée that shows Stéphane's dexterity and skill in abundance. It is concentration and intensity you only find in the very best Sauvignon Blancs. It also shows the ripe fullness of the vintage, and will drink well from early on.

Staggering attention to detail is paid by Stéphane Riffault in both the vineyard and cellar. He is unquestionably making some of the most exciting wines in the appellation. They stand out for their tightly coiled, supercharged concentration. This is Sauvignon Blanc as you've never known it before: powerful, with a filigree, piercing, precise freshness. It is Burgundian in stature. It comes from a parcel grown on Kimmeridgian marl, known locally as terres blanches, which produces wines full of flavour and texture. Long, slow fermentations in large oak foudres encourage complex savoury expression from the Sauvignon Blanc. This is not to be missed.

This is a warmer, south-facing site than Fumet. In 2023 there is wonderful weight from the peachy nectarine fruit and a floral, slightly smoky lift. Just gorgeous right now with superb energy, and the weight will carry it so well through a few years in the cellar.

Bertrand Minchin’s wines are seriously impressive and Menetou-Salon, an appellation to be discovered. This north-facing limestone site is cool and late ripening. In a warm year like 2023 it soars. Textured and sapid with stone fruit and saline freshness.There is such a fine acidity and outstanding white pepper length, with so much persistence and energy on the palate. We can’t wait to see how the fruit and acidity entwine further with some bottle age.

Thibaud Chevré is a seriously exciting young talent in the Loire. His father spent a magnificent career working with Thierry Germain, and this is only the second year for this cuvee. 100% Chenin Blanc, this clos vineyard is planted with northerly exposure ensuring this is pure, mineral and fresh. Vinifed 50% in stainless steel and 50% in oak barrel - the palate is very focussed and precise with lots of elegant appley fruit, culminating in a long, mineral finish.

This is another of the domaine's outstanding monopole vineyards. Like Clos de Venise, it actually lies within Vouvray, but becuase it is vinified on the other side of the river, in Montlouis, it cannot use the AOC name on its label. This irritating quirk of appellation beaurocracy should not overshadow the quality found here. Bretonnière has astonishing length and persistence. This, combined with its perfectly weighted body gives the impression of both concentration and density as well as a light-as-air frame, make it a captivating Chenin Blanc. It brims with citrus and blossom notes on the nose, with a spicy, saline palate. Yet again a pick of the vintage.

Some of the vines in this vineyard are over 100 years old, and the wine always has a thrilling concentration and precision derived from the high limestone content of the soil. The fruit is chiselled, nicely tart, with a delicious fresh ripeness underneath - everything you want from Chenin Blanc.

Clos Mosny is a walled 12 hectare vineyard which consistently produces one of our favourite wines from Jacky. It is so beautifully aromatic, with an energetic drive on the palate. The fruit is almost flamboyant in its expression, yet the saline tension of the acidity keeps everything tightly in balance, making this a serious and age-worthy expression of Chenin Blanc. Just a hint of new oak adds a creaminess to the texture. Very long on the finish, with crunchy apple and blossom enveloping the palate.