20833 customer reviews

Sancerre

4/5See 3377 opinions

Sancerre is a world-renowned terroir. The presence of vines in Sancerre and on the banks of the Loire dates back to antiquity. In the 12th century, the Augustinian monks of the Abbey of Saint-Satur and the Counts of Sancerre introduced their red wines made from Pinot Noir. These were a great success. Duke Jean de Berry himself considered Sancerre to be one of the finest wines in the kingdom.

The Sancerre vineyards were destroyed by phylloxera at the end of the 19th century. Instead of replanting only pinot noir, the winemakers added sauvignon blanc to the pinot noir. Since then, the quality of Sancerre wine has been consistently high. White wines made from Sauvignon Blanc were classified as AOC as early as 1936. Red and rosé wines made from pinot noir have been classified since 1959.

Located to the east of the city of Bourges, the Sancerre vineyards cover some 2,770 hectares. The appellation covers 14 communes: Bannay, Bué, Crézancy, Menetou-Râtel, Ménétréol, Montigny, Saint-Satur, Sainte-Gemme, Sury-en-Vaux, Thauvenay, Veaugues, Verdigny, Vinon and, of course, Sancerre.

Sancerre vines are planted on three types of soil. The terres blanches (white soils) are located in the western part of the territory, on the hills. The wines produced from these clay-limestone soils are more full-bodied. On the central slopes, the caillottes are characterized by stony, chalky soils, which lend floral notes to the wine. Finally, on the hills to the east of the vineyard, the clay-silica soils produce firm, mineral wines.

The quality of Sancerre wines is well established. Visit 1Jour1Vinyou'll find all the best vintages, at the best prices, direct from the producers: Alphonse Mellot - La Moussière, Domaine Vacheron, Domaine Delaporte, Pascal et Nicolas Reverdy, Domaine Henry -Pellé...

Vineyards and winemaking

The Sancerre vineyards are located in the Centre-Val de Loire region, mainly in the Cher département. The vineyard covers almost 3,000 ha, with around 360 estates. It is a hillside vineyard on the left bank of the Loire, on the edge of the Paris basin. Its position is therefore relatively good, which explains the quality of the wine. Exposure can vary widely, creating microclimates. This allows the grapes to develop a complex taste. The Sancerre region's hillsides shelter the vines from the wind, while the region's low rainfall shelters them from the rain. The grapes can therefore mature without being damaged. The soils of the Sancerre estates are predominantly limestone, allowing water and humidity to drain away easily. Sancerre Blanc is made exclusively from Sauvignon B grapes, while Sancerre Rosé and Sancerre Red are made from Pinot Noir grapes.

Colour, nose and bouquet

Sancerre blanc has a pale yellow color, slightly lighter than champagne. Red Sancerre, on the other hand, has a ruby-red color, while rosé has a grayish hue. White Sancerre offers tangy notes of orange and grapefruit, mixed with acacia and mint. Depending on the soil, the white may also have a touch of blackcurrant and narcissus. Red Sancerre, on the other hand, tends more towards red fruits, particularly cherry and morello cherry, with hints of venison. For added complexity, try red Sancerre wines from estates where vinification takes place in oak barrels. Finally, rosé wines offer sweet summer tastes, reminiscent of peach. Sancerre's limestone soils enable the wine to develop powerful, recognizable aromas that develop slowly on the palate. The stony soils produce lighter wines whose aromas develop more rapidly on the palate. The white wine of Sancerre is dry, yet fresh and round on the palate. Red wines, on the other hand, are much more balanced and full-bodied. Rosé is a dry wine that remains full-bodied and balanced thanks to its sweet notes. Whether white, red or rosé, Sancerre wines can be enjoyed young, after one to three years of maturation. However, they can also become very good vintages. Sancerre also offers "millennium vintages", dating from 1959 and 1989. In general, the best Sancerre years are 1959, 1976, 1989, 1990, 1995 and 2005.

Sancerre in gastronomy

Depending on color, Sancerre wines can be matched to different dishes. White Sancerre goes perfectly with fromage frais, especially goat's or sheep's cheese. To stay with the AOCs of the Centre-Val de Loire region, crottin de Chavignol goes very well with this type of wine. Sancerre or Salers corks are also excellent choices. Fresh dishes such as fish, especially smoked salmon, and shellfish also go well with white Sancerre, as do spicy dishes or fish in sauce, such as pike. Red Sancerre is much better suited to main courses of poultry and red meat, as well as charcuterie.

More information on the Sancerre