Domaine Vincent Pinard - Sancerre Le Château 2022

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Brothers Clément and Florent Pinard continue to maintain their estate at the pinnacle of success. Without a sales agent or representative, their range is sold to the finest Michelin-starred restaurants and exported abroad, satisfying a handful of loyal enthusiasts eager to taste their latest vintages. They cultivate their 17 hectares according to the principles of organic farming, without certification, and began biodynamic farming in 2018. They produce fine, delicate whites and full-bodied reds, some from whole harvests, which gives the Pinot additional richness and complexity and places them among the best examples from the Loire. Low sulfur, indigenous yeasts selected by them, hand-picked grapes—everything converges towards excellence, pushing every detail to be questioned with each vintage. The eight whites in particular offer a very educational journey through the different terroirs of Bué, between different layers of limestone, silica, and marl.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About wine:

Among the localities, Le Château retains its sunnier and more comfortable identity.

About the estate:

In the wine-growing village of Bué, the Pinard family has made its estate one of the most iconic in Sancerre. With each passing vintage, brothers Florent and Clément continually push their boundaries to create flavors that are ever closer to their terroir, both in viticulture (conversion to organic farming, yield control, optimal grape ripeness, etc.) and in the cellar (working with yeast strains from their vineyard for fermentation, extending aging in demi-muid barrels, reducing volcanic sulfur doses, etc.). Florès is an excellent introduction to understanding the stylized and perfectly calibrated approach to whites. The intensity then increases with cuvées that reflect the identity of specific lieux-dits, from the salty and chiseled Petit Chemarin to the austere and elegant power of Chêne Marchand, not to mention Le Château, with its comforting density. The reds are not to be outdone, with increasingly defined, highly concentrated materials. The wines acquire remarkable grace in the 2023 vintage.

Vinous

About wine:

The 2022 Château is a finely balanced style that offers both tension and tenderness. Yes, the fruit is ripe with a lemony and elderflower character, but it also retains a gentle freshness that is supported by a fine, chalky line and a rich structure. The 2022 is a relatively quiet wine that will assert itself as it progresses in the bottle.