Sancerre back vintage release

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 high acidity - the secret to single vineyard wines in his opinion. In 2020 this is restrained, yet agile. It would do well for a few years in the cellar, and its saline, savoury structure will make it an excellent food wine in the years to come.

Luc Prieur’s Sancerre Blanc is one of the best value in the appellation - detailed, balanced, so refreshing, and admirably ageworthy. It comes from parcels dotted around the village of Verdigny and is a blend of the three major soil types found in the region: caillottes, silex and terres blanches. The 2020 has tension and precision, with a fine saline structure. This is exceptional terroir-driven Sancerre from one of the finest young talents in the region.

La Pitaude lies on Kimmeridgian terres blanches soils in the commune of Verdigny. Just 1000 bottles were made. It would do well for a few years in the cellar, and its saline, savoury structure will make it an excellent food wine in the years to come. The handwritten gold writing on the bottle is in place of a label on this rare and wonderful wine.

This is a rare opportunity to own some ex-domaine late release Sancerre blanc from a rising star producer. Luc Prieur's Sancerre blanc is hands down our buyer Catherine's favourite wine. For price and quality, it's unbeatable. Twin that with some bottle age - the way Sancerre should be drunk - and you have an unmissable opportunity. 2016 has superb ageing potential. The wines are slow to evolve, their vibrant energy showing impressive staying power.

This is a late vintage release ex-domaine in 2022 and shows just why we should all start taking Sancerre Rouge seriously. 2016 is a wonderful vintage, in a great place right now.

This is a rare opportunity to own some ex-domaine late release Sancerre blanc from a rising star producer. Luc Prieur's Sancerre blanc is hands down our buyer Catherine's favourite wine. For price and quality, it's unbeatable. Twin that with some bottle age - the way Sancerre should be drunk - and you have an unmissable opportunity. 2015s are ripe and complete wines with length and depth.

This is a late vintage release ex-domaine in 2022 and shows just why we should all start taking Sancerre Rouge seriously. 2015 is a rich and structured vintage, in a great place right now.

This is the greatest vineyard in Sancerre, famous for producing wines with astounding power and length. 2015 is such a complete, ripe, and glorious vintage for this wine.

Les Pichons is the vineyard that sits just next to Luc Prieur's cellar in the village of Verdigny. The wines it produces are rich and full-bodied - not what one might immediately think of for Sancerre Rouge. It needs some time to come around, so this ex-domaine late-release is in a perfect place.

This is a rare opportunity to own some ex-domaine late release Sancerre blanc from a rising star producer. Luc Prieur's Sancerre blanc is hands down our buyer Catherine's favourite wine. For price and quality, it's unbeatable. Twin that with some bottle age - the way Sancerre should be drunk - and you have an unmissable opportunity. 2014s are austere and racy, with a razor sharp edge, and chalky, stinging nettle aromas. It’s often tipped as one of the greatest vintages the region has ever seen.

This is a late vintage release ex-domaine in 2022 and shows just why we should all start taking Sancerre Rouge seriously. 2014 felt quite spiky in its youth, but is absolutely on point now.

This is the greatest vineyard in Sancerre, and 2014 will go down in the history books as one of the greatest vintages the Loire has ever seen.

Les Pichons is the vineyard that sits just next to Luc Prieur's cellar in the village of Verdigny. The wines it produces are rich and full-bodied - not what one might immediately think of for Sancerre Rouge. It needs some time to come around, so this ex-domaine late-release is in a perfect place.

This is a rare opportunity to own some ex-domaine late release Sancerre blanc from a rising star producer. Luc Prieur's Sancerre blanc is hands down our buyer Catherine's favourite wine. For price and quality, it's unbeatable. Twin that with some bottle age - the way Sancerre should be drunk - and you have an unmissable opportunity. 2012s are compact and complex.

This is a late vintage release ex-domaine in 2022 and shows just why we should all start taking Sancerre Rouge seriously. With ten years' age this is in the perfect drinking window.

Unlike his neighbours who use the lieu-dit name Cul de Beaujeu, Gérard keeps the original 'Clos' in his, as his vines lie within the oldest part of the vineyard, that had originally been surrounded by a wall. They sit in the chalky Kimmeridgian terres blanches soils of this dramatically steep south-east facing slope that rises up behind the village of Chavignol. Of all his cuvées, this is the most opulent in character, the most open and forward in its youth. 2020 is a vintage of opulence and freshness, meaning it will drink well from youth, as well as age beautifully.

Unlike his neighbours who use the lieu-dit name Cul de Beaujeu, Gérard keeps the original 'Clos' in his, as his vines lie within the oldest part of the vineyard, that had originally been surrounded by a wall. They sit in the chalky Kimmeridgian terres blanches soils of this dramatically steep south-east facing slope that rises up behind the village of Chavignol. Of all his cuvées, this is the most opulent in character, the most open and forward in its youth, with fleshy fruits and just a hint of tropical succulence, twinned with a superbly fresh cut of acidity.

Gérard's La Côte hails from the same highly-prized terres blanches (Kimmeridgian marl) vineyard as François Cotat's La Grande Côte (though in fact the parcel is officially called La Côte d'Amigny). The chalky soil here makes for the most austere of Gérard's wines, with a restrained nose that begins to open up with some air, hinting at the haunting beauty to come if you give it a few years to age. It is mineral and tense, nervous and fine-boned, with a precise and lingering finish.

Sancerre is the spiritual home of Sauvignon Blanc, where you’ll find the most refined, purest, most ageworthy examples of the grape variety. Domaine Paul Thomas is a small, family-run estate, with just nine hectares of vines in Chavignol, for many the sweet-spot of the region, and the site of the most famous vineyard here, Les Monts-Damnés. This, a blend from the estate’s vineyards around the village of Chavignol, shows pure and aromatic citrus fruits, with a precision and tension on the palate, its texture and minerality derived from the deep limestone soils. It’s a benchmark example of a much-loved region.

The Pinard brothers, Clément and Florent, are top dogs in the southern village of Bué in the celebrated Sancerre appellation. They make various single vineyard wines in the village, all of which are highly detailed, gastronomic wines. Le Château sits just to the north of Le Grand Chemarin and Chêne Marchand, on Kimmeridgian marl. The wine is tense and powerful with a racy richness and voluminous, ample concentration. Ageing in oak barrels (none new) gives this Sauvignon Blanc a roundness that works so well with the natural power of the site and this vintage.

Harmonie is one of the best-loved Pinard cuvées. It’s a blend of the top vineyards in Bué: Chêne Marchand and Grand Chemarin. The nose is so complex and already so complete. It offers up crushed seashells, anise, and a touch of tropical fruit. This is Sauvignon Blanc at its vibrant best.

Les Créots is found in the relatively unknown village of Thauvenay at the south-eastern limit of the appellation. Its quartz-flecked clay soils are fertile ground for quality-minded producers seeking vineyard expression. For an introduction to the domaine’s whites, you couldn’t do much better than this. It is floral and delicate on the nose. The palate has an agile freshness. This is a wonderfully restrained style of Sancerre Blanc, with zesty freshness.

This comes from a blend of parcels in the village of Bué, thought to be the best source of Pinot Noir in the Sancerre appellation. 50-year-old vines and low yields of around 30hl/ha give wonderful concentration. This means volumes are small, and demand far outstrips supply for this wine. It has deliciously fresh, ripe red fruit at its core, and silky tannins, it is an exceptionally well made Pinot Noir in any context. Wonderfully rich yet vibrant.