2016 Sancerre Rouge, Les Epsailles, Domaine David Sautereau, Loire

2016 Sancerre Rouge, Les Epsailles, Domaine David Sautereau, Loire

Product: 20161435003
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2016 Sancerre Rouge, Les Epsailles, Domaine David Sautereau, Loire

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Description

The cheerful, hugely talented David Sautereau is among our favourite growers in Sancerre. His Pinot Noir is blended from parcels on three separate soil types, including sandy, iron-rich terres rouges which, David says, account for its fresh, mineral character. The nose is high-toned, with just a hint of varnish as well as all those delightful red berry aromas. A fifth is raised in used oak barrels to round out the tannins. This proved a stunning accompaniment to the magret de canard served by David’s wife Sandrine when we visited the domaine in February this year. Drink now to 2024.
Will Heslop, Burgundy Buying Assistant (spring 2019)

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About this WINE

Dme. David Sautereau, Sancerre

Dme. David Sautereau, Sancerre

Situated in the village of Crézancy 7km from the town of Sancerre, the 18ha Domaine Sautereau has been producing Sancerres for nine generations. Winemaker David Sautereau uses a blend of age-old practises and modern techniques to show the terroir characteristics of Sancerre at their best. A cool fermentation ensures a particularly pure, fruity style while 3 months on the lees provide extra complexity and richness.

The wines are stored in stainless steel vats and bottled 6 months after the harvest for extra freshness.

Discover the story behind our Own Selection Sancerre, made for us by David. Read more

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Sancerre

Sancerre

Sancerre is a famous white Sauvignon Blanc appellation located on the left bank of the Loire, across from Pouilly-Fumé.

While Pouilly-Fumé's vineyards are tightly clustered and homogeneous, Sancerre's 14 communes (including the great villages of Chavignol, Bué, Verdigny, Amigny and Ménétréol) are widely dispersed, covering nearly 3,000 hectares over vertiginous valleys at up to 350 metres above sea level, and three distinct soil types: silex, a white flint found around Sancerre and Ménétréol in particular, giving perfume and a fine structure; terres blanches, a calcareous clay soil that whitens as it dries (widely distributed), delivering a full, fruity richness; and caillottes, a Portlandian soil brimming with large limestones imparting both power and verve – as found in Sancerre, Chavignol and Bué.

A fourth soil type, griottes, tightly-packed with small limestones, has also been identified – as found near the village of Vosges. Kimmeridgean clay crops up less consistently than in Pouilly-Fumé and since most Sancerre, bar the single-vineyard wines, are a blend of soils the result is a richer, fuller and fleshier Sauvignon Blanc.

As with Pouilly-Fumé, an increasing number of (single-vineyard) wines are being raised in French oak, mostly 500-litre and demi-muids; little surprise in light of naturally higher alcohol levels due to global warming. Sancerre Rouge is also made from Pinot Noir, the quality of which is often compromised by bleeding some of the juice to make rosé – Vincent Pinard is a master nonetheless.


Recommended producers: François CotatAndré DezatDavid Sautereau

Top vineyards include: Les Monts Damnés, La Grande Côte, Le Cul de Beaujeu, Grand (and Petit) Chemarin, Chêne Marchand

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Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is probably the most frustrating, and at times infuriating, wine grape in the world. However when it is successful, it can produce some of the most sublime wines known to man. This thin-skinned grape which grows in small, tight bunches performs well on well-drained, deepish limestone based subsoils as are found on Burgundy's Côte d'Or.

Pinot Noir is more susceptible than other varieties to over cropping - concentration and varietal character disappear rapidly if yields are excessive and yields as little as 25hl/ha are the norm for some climats of the Côte d`Or.

Because of the thinness of the skins, Pinot Noir wines are lighter in colour, body and tannins. However the best wines have grip, complexity and an intensity of fruit seldom found in wine from other grapes. Young Pinot Noir can smell almost sweet, redolent with freshly crushed raspberries, cherries and redcurrants. When mature, the best wines develop a sensuous, silky mouth feel with the fruit flavours deepening and gamey "sous-bois" nuances emerging.

The best examples are still found in Burgundy, although Pinot Noir`s key role in Champagne should not be forgotten. It is grown throughout the world with notable success in the Carneros and Russian River Valley districts of California, and the Martinborough and Central Otago regions of New Zealand.

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