From: Sancerre, France
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Taste: This Sancerre blanc has an ebullient nose of zesty citrus and stone fruit notes. Grapefruit and lemon meet white peach and melon with floral accents. The palate follows suit and introduces a touch more exotic fruit, making this wine an easy fit for just about any occasion or mood. It should be noted that though the 2020 vintage was one of the earliest vintages on record, the warm and dry conditions produced concentrated but complex wines & this Sancerre is a benchmark example of Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc.
Pairing: Sancerre is wildly beloved for its savory, flinty, food-friendly character, and this wine is no exception. It’ll fit effortlessly alongside dishes that incorporate fresh goat cheese, smoked salmon, zucchini (check out this Zucchini Pancakes recipe), arugula, avocado, summer squash, citrus, basil, tofu, roast chicken/turkey/pork, grilled trout, tuna or chicken salads, crab, etc.
About. David Sautereau, a tenth-generation producer now runs the family domaine Sautereau in Crézancy. David studied winemaking in Burgundy and Champagne, and did a few internships in Switzerland, California, and Australia. Working closely with his parents, he made his first Sancerre harvest in 1997, committed to perpetuating the family know-how while adding new techniques to make the most of its terroir.
His vineyards now total 22 hectares: 2/3 in sauvignon blanc and 1/3 in pinot noir in the communes of Crézancy, Bué, and Sancerre. Having made the plunge to organic viticulture two years ago (he’ll be certified with next years vintage), his wines now display more precise acids while maintaining plenty of fruit on the palate. His immaculately farmed whites come from three different soil types, caillottes, small rocks lying atop limestone beds that promote finesse and elegance, kimmeridgian marnes that give roundness, volume and complexity, and marine shell-rich terres blanches, that gives powerful aromas, freshness, and great length to the wines.
