Spring Sancerre

2023 Sancerre Les Monts Damnés, Domaine Paul Prieur et Fils Dry | White | Still | 13.5%

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.

Ready: 2025 - 2036

2023 Sancerre Pieuchaud Silex, Domaine Paul Prieur et Fils Dry | White | Still | 13.5%

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.

Ready: 2025 - 2037

2023 Sancerre La Pitaude, Domaine Paul Prieur et Fils Dry | White | Still | 14%

La Pitaude lies on Kimmeridgian terres blanches soils in the commune of Verdigny (very similar to that of the Monts Damnés vineyard). The site produces bunches with such small berries that the concentration of acidity and flavour in this wine absolutely soars. Yields are so low that Luc has considered pulling the vines out many times, but each year it makes such a spellbinding wine, he decides to keep them. 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.

Ready: 2026 - 2037

2024 Sancerre Blanc, Domaine Paul Prieur et Fils Dry | White | Still

We've loved Luc Prieur's Sancerre Blanc for years: it's one of our best-sellers from the Loire, and keeps pace with far pricier wines from other regions. It offers balance, purity and complexity, and has a remarklable ability to age. It comes from various 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. It is an exceptionally terroir-driven Sancerre from one of the finest young talents in the region. 2024 is tightly coiled and incisive. Leaner than some previous vintages, it is going to make for an unbeatable aperitif wine in youth, and a great match with cheese with some age.

 

2022 Sancerre Les Monts Damnés, Domaine Paul Prieur et Fils Dry | White | Still | 13%

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.

Ready: 2025 - 2036

2023 Sancerre Caillottes, François Cotat Dry | White | Still

For many, François Cotat is the defining name of Sancerre. Even fine wine afficionado who claim not to like Sauvignon Blanc love his wines. Caillottes is his most accessible and up front wine, coming from a blend of parcels around the village of Chavignol, on the chalky limestone soils. Even so, this has the finesse and poise to age for many years.

Ready: 2025 - 2037

2023 Sancerre Les Culs de Beaujeu, François Cotat Dry | White | Still | 13%

This terres blanches site rises up behind the village of Chavignol and although it is only shared amongst a few growers, is one of the most famous sites in Sancerre. It shares the power of neighbouring Monts Damnés, with a tender, fleshy fruit and floral texture on the body.

Ready: 2026 - 2038

2023 Sancerre Comtesse, Gérard Boulay Dry | White | Still | 13%

Comtesse is widely regarded as one of the best, if not the best, parcel situated on what is firmly considered Sancerre's greatest hillside: Les Monts Damnés. Les Monts Damnés is a large south-facing slope running the full length of the village of Chavignol, and its Kimmeridgian terres blanches soils make some of the appellation's most powerful, structured, and longest lived wines. Comtesse has all these classic Monts Damnés characteristics, and then some. It is also one of the most perfumed and floral examples you'll find here. Its extraordinary aromatics unfurl in the glass with such intrigue and charm you'll forget this wine has anything to do with the Sauvignon Blanc grape. If you can resist the temptation posed by its delicious palate - racy, mineral, and fleshy all at once - then you'll appreciate just how much this wine has to say. It will transform in your glass through its various stages: fruit (papaya, lime), freshly cut flowers, chalky minerality, through to saline, oyster brine and smoky notes.

Young: 2027 - 2039

2023 Sancerre Clos de Beaujeu, Gérard Boulay Dry | White | Still | 13%

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. 2023 is a vintage of opulence and freshness, meaning it will drink well from youth, as well as age beautifully.

Ready: 2026 - 2036

2023 Sancerre La Côte, Gérard Boulay Dry | White | Still | 13%

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.

Ready: 2026 - 2037

2024 Sancerre Blanc, Chavignol, Domaine Paul Thomas Dry | White | Still

This bright, fresh and lovely Sancerre Blanc from the superbly chalky soils of Chavignol is a fantastic bargain. Zesty and open, it is a deliciously balanced, thirst-quenching glass from one of France's great appellations.

Ready: 2025 - 2029

2023 Sancerre Blanc, Les Monts Damnés, Domaine Paul Thomas Dry | White | Still

Domaine Paul Thomas has the largest vineyard on the steeply sloping hill of Chavignol, in Les Mont Damnés, one of the finest areas for the production of top class Sauvignon Blanc. The Domaine is under the watchful eye of Raphael Thomas, who is producing some of the most exciting wines in Sancerre. This wine has an attractive, expressive nose. The palate is nicely round and balanced, with great depth to the fruit and elegant power driving through the finish.

Ready: 2026 - 2037

2023 Sancerre Blanc, Silex, Domaine Paul Thomas Dry | White | Still

This excellent domaine in Chavignol is under the watchful eye of Raphael Thomas, who is producing some of the most exciting wines in Sancerre. This wine comes from parcels where the soild is flint, and produces a wine with floral notes and mineral depth. The fruit is energetic and vivacious on the palate, brimming with energy. Long finish with delicious bite.

Ready: 2026 - 2038

2023 Sancerre Les Chasseignes, Domaine Claude Riffault Dry | White | Still | 14%

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.

Ready: 2025 - 2037

2023 Sancerre Les Denisottes, Domaine Claude Riffault Dry | White | Still | 14%

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.

Ready: 2026 - 2037

2023 Sancerre Rouge La Noue, Claude Riffault Dry | Red | Still | 14%

This always stands out among Sancerre Rouges for its charming, early drinking style. It has lovely concentration of fruit with well-managed ripeness. Whole bunch vinification gives it a delicate juiciness. It is extremely pretty and nicely weighted. Drink this young and slightly chilled for a superbly refreshing glass of red.

Ready: 2025 - 2030

2023 Sancerre Le Château, Vincent Pinard Dry | White | Still

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. The texture is gorgeously silky. 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. Just beautiful.

Ready: 2026 - 2034

2024 Sancerre Les Créots, Domaine Vincent Pinard Dry | White | Still

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.

Ready: 2025 - 2038

2023 Sancerre Harmonie, Vincent Pinard Dry | White | Still

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, floral and already so complete. It offers up crushed seashells, anise, and a touch of pure tropical fruit. This is Sauvignon Blanc at its intense and vibrant best.

Ready: 2026 - 2034

2023 Sancerre Chêne Marchand, Vincent Pinard Dry | White | Still

Domaine Vincent Pinard's Chêne Marchand is one of the great vineyards of Sancerre whose Oxfordian limestone soils produce an iconic Sancerre of complexity, tension and depth. It is quietly powerful. The nose is chalky and mineral, then on the palate a complex mix of flint, ripe citrus, honey, blood orange pith and white pepper. The finish is long, driven and evolving.

Ready: 2026 - 2038

2023 Sancerre Grand Chemarin, Vincent Pinard Dry | White | Still

The south-facing Grand Chemarin evokes an intense, complex yet detailed and precise nose of green and yellow apple, a hint of mint, blossom and a mineral edge. The palate is all about volume and depth, texture and precision. It’s a complex and supremely elegant wine - a masterclass in mineral power with an enduring and refreshing saline finish.

Ready: 2026 - 2040

2022 Sancerre Les Créots, Domaine Vincent Pinard Dry | White | Still | 13%

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.

Ready: 2024 - 2029

2022 Sancerre Rouge Charlouise, Vincent Pinard Dry | Red | Still

The Pinard brothers are the leading authority on Sancerre Rouge. 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.

Ready: 2025 - 2032

2021 Sancerre Harmonie, Vincent Pinard Dry | White | Still | 13%

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.

Ready: 2024 - 2032