Taste and Critical Acclaim: 96 Points - Ian Blackburn
This storied house makes wines with high ethos - certified biodynamic (Demeter) and Certified Organic. The wines go through natural ferments and some (20% of the cuvee) is from the higher rated single vineyards (we have some) that are highly allocated and rare. These single vineyards see larger wood and add depth and richness to what I could declare is THE BENCHMARK producer in Sancerre. The style is very dry, very clean, and leans into the flint and stoney notions of the soils. The restraint is the nose is hypnotic and should be bottled as a perfume of citrus peel, Asian pear and young honeydew melon. The stoney elements on this wine are right in balance and the elegance, early harvest, and high tier work in the vineyards is evident… the wine is so tender and balanced… with incredible length and nice intensity and reverberation… the complexity will continue to be added as time allows this wine to show off. The finish is refined and if I didn’t have to work - I could drink this all day… a top wine of the year…. for me to recommend. C 14.5, A 24.5, Body 23, Overall 34 - love this wine… 96 points.
Pairing: This wine has a bright acidity that makes it a great pairing for seafood dishes. It will bring out the sweetness of scallops, shrimp, and lobster, as well as the delicate flavors of white fish. It’s refreshing, lip-smacking acidity also makes it a great pairing for salads, especially those with an emphasis on seasonal produce and fresh goat’s milk cheese.
About. The Vacheron vineyards are all close to the village of Sancerre itself and have been in the family for 9 generations. Today, this domaine is run by two cousins, the Messieurs Vacheron. Both have sons studying viticulture to carry on the family tradition.
The vineyards cover 34 hectares with two principal soil types; "silex" and "caillotte" or chalk. Organic viticulture has been a goal of the family for a number of years; as of 2003, the entire estate was certified organic. The following year the winery was converted completely to biodynamic agriculture--to be sure, you won't find more terroir-driven Sancerre anywhere else in the appellation. Jean-Dominique and Jean-Laurent Vacheron are ably leading the domaine to ever-loftier winemaking heights. The wines speak for themselves—always consistent, the quality of Vacheron Sancerre continues to astound.
Fruit is organic, hand-harvested, and fermented naturally with indigenous yeasts, leading to wines that show a serious sense of place. The cousins have become a benchmark for earth-driven Sauvignon Blanc worldwide.
