Description
Sancerre Blanc “Les Garennes” Domaine Vacheron 2018
Domaine Vacheron, Sancerre
“The 47 ha family estate is surely one of the finest Sancerre producers. Corresponding to Demeter, Biodyvin and Ecocert regulations for the past couple of years, three generations (with the two young cousins Jean-Laurent and Jean-Dominique Vacheron at the helm) cultivate their Sauvignon Blanc vines in the best limestone and/or silex sites and offer wines which are clear, precise and fresh but also pure, defined and thrillingly mineral and complex. Yields are kept extremely low here and harvest is done exclusively by hand. The cousins vinify (and partly bottle) their different parcels separately whereas the blend can vary from year to year. In contrast to most of the top producers in Sancerre the Vacherons cultivate their vines mostly on Silex (flint) soils which is to be found mainly in the eastern part of the appellation as well as in Pouilly-Fumé on the other side of the Loire river. This makes their wines firm, fresh if not piquant, very precise and rather vertical, even the reds. Wines from Vacheron often need some time to open up but they are really worth your patience.” -Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate.
Certified as a biodynamic wine producer for ten years now, Domaine Vacheron is surely one of the highlights in the Sancerrois. Lead by Jean-Dominique and his cousin Jean-Laurent, the family domaine produces a range of different single vineyard Sancerres in white, red and pink that reflects not just the rich variety of the terroirs in the region, but the concept of the cousins who seem to demonstrate that the Sancerreois is no less fascinating than the Côte d’Or. In fact, the rich and powerful whites (38 of the 50 hectares are planted with Sauvignon Blanc) belong to the best Sancerres you can find, especially when you have the patience to give the crus the time they need to develop.”
Vacheron is primarily a “silex” (flinty soils) producer which translates amazingly in your glass. There is a smoky and flinty quality to the wine that is backed with a delicate citrus fruitiness reminiscent of grapefruit.
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Biodynamic
