Pascal Jolivet, no stranger to these pages, is a relative newcomer to the region. So it was a particular pleasure to rediscover the more subtle tones within this bottle, justifying its description as Sancerre first and foremost, rather than its grape variety. I am guilty of choosing Sauvignon Blanc far too rarely, perhaps from overexposure to the 'Savalanche' of potent New World examples that have dominated the wine market since I started in wine 22 years ago. This faithful reflection of terroir felt particularly striking when I tasted this wine last month. Yet Pascal Jolivet's 2021 Sancerre survived these onslaughts to prove exactly how expressive Sauvignon Blanc can be in the right hands. The year was, by all accounts, a nightmare vintage across the region as in much of France, with capricious weather that led to ravaging frost and mildew. If you need proof that the 2021 harvest in Sancerre was a cool one, look no further than the gloomy photo above, taken from the Instagram page of renowned producer Pascal Jolivet. While not typically exported in large amounts, they are well-made and attract a loyal French following.A wine to make you fall in love with a European classic all over again.įrom €22.35, $27.99, £24, NZ$49.99, 635 rand, AU$60, 4,928 Japanese yen, HK$298, SG$59 Flint (silex) soils close to the village produce particularly perfumed and age-worthy wines.Ībout ten percent of the wines claiming the Sancerre appellation name are fresh and light red wines made from Pinot noir and to a lesser extent, rosés. Moving closer to the actual town of Sancerre, soils are gravel and limestone, producing especially delicate wines. In the western part of the appellation, clay and limestone soils with Kimmeridgean marne, especially in Chavignol, produce powerful wines. While the region claims a continental climate, noted for short, hot summers and long, cold winters, variations in topography-rolling hills and steep slopes from about 600 to 1,300 feet in elevation-with great soil variations, contribute the variations in character in Sancerre Sauvignon blancs. Its enormous popularity in 1970s French bistros led to its success as the go-to restaurant white around the globe in the 1980s. Marked by its charming hilltop village in the easternmost territory of the Loire, Sancerre is famous for its racy, vivacious, citrus-dominant Sauvignon blanc. Though the family is forever striving to perfect their craft, they remain committed to Henri’s original viticultural vision of showcasing the purity of the Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir grapes and the unique Terroirs of Sancerre.įamille Bourgeois has received numerous accolades over the years from press and public alike for all of their wines, ranging from their delightfully fresh & food-friendly "baby Sancerre" Petit Bourgeois wines to their age-worthy, terroir-driven Sancerre & Pouilly-Fumé cuvées. Today, Arnaud, Lionel, and Jean-Christophe Bourgeois are just as much the heirs of those men as the initiators of the future of the vines and wines of the house. They discovered new terroirs, bought land, developed partnerships with other Sancerre families, and turned themselves into the #1 ambassador of Sancerre in France, then abroad. His sons, Jean-Marie and Rémi, joined him in the 1960s and continued the adventure. From cultivating two hectares on the slopes of Chavignol, Henri took the audacious step in the 1950s of developing his vineyards in an as yet unknown area. Brought to fruition by Henri Bourgeois over 50 years ago, the vineyards lie on some of the most rugged hillside terrains, offering the best exposures in the Loire Valley. The domain covers 72 hectares on the best Terroir of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé appellations. The Famille Bourgeois has been in love with Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc for 11th generation.
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