2023 Domaine Paul Prieur Sancerre Pieuchaud Silex

The 2023 “Pieuchaud Silex” from Domaine Paul Prieur et Fils in Sancerre AOC is a site-specific expression of Sauvignon Blanc grown on flint (silex) soils. The nose is precise and nervy, offering citrus—lemon zest and grapefruit—alongside green apple, subtle herbal notes, and a distinct flintiness that speaks to its Silex soil terroir. On the palate, it shows a linear structure and a tightly focused profile. Citrus and orchard fruit are supported by a marked mineral tension and a lightly smoky salinity. Fantastic balance between fruit and minerality, lovely! 

17/20 Jancis Robinson. Silex terroir. Paul Prieur was the first to isolate this lieu-dit. Prieur is looking for extra ripeness in silex to counterbalance the tension. On lees for 12 months, then blended and it will be bottled in January 2025. Nervy, very cool and pure. (JR)

Domaine Paul Prieur et Fils is a family-owned estate in Sancerre AOC with eleven generations of viticultural history, now led by Luc Prieur, whose Burgundian training informs a parcel-focused, terroir-driven approach. The 19-hectare estate is planted primarily to Sauvignon Blanc with smaller holdings of Pinot Noir across limestone and clay soils, supporting a range of site expressions. Certified organic since 2022 and incorporating biodynamic practices, the domaine emphasizes low-intervention farming and cellar work, including native fermentations, no added sulfur during vinification, and aging in neutral vessels. The resulting wines show clear typicity, with whites defined by citrus, acidity, and mineral structure, and reds by freshness and restrained extraction, reflecting both regional identity and a contemporary, minimal-intervention philosophy.