2018 Loire

This exemplary Muscadet is blended from several parcels, all of which are organically certified and harvested by hand. It combines aromas of citrus and white flowers, with just-perceptible spritz and a long, distinctly saline finish, redolent of the nearby Atlantic. A great accompaniment to oysters and mussels, it also works well with hard cheeses such as Comté. Drink now to 2021.
Will Heslop, Burgundy Buying Assistant (spring 2019)

Fifth-generation winemaker Raphaël oversees 27 hectares, planted primarily with Sauvignon Blanc. His holdings include a parcel in the littleknown appellation of Touraine Oisly, but Touraine Sauvignon is his bread and butter. The domaine is located in Chémery, some 65 kilometres east of the historic city of Tours.

Raphaël adds no sulphur to this fabulously fruity, aromatic Gamay – a wine that blew us away on a recent visit to the domaine. Its bouquet of red berries and violets is one to savour. The palate is exceptionally supple, pointing to 2018’s warm, dry growing season. It is named after Raphaël’s grandfather, Jean, who was a Gamay devotee. Drink now to 2020.

From a south-facing, three-hectare parcel, this superb Reuilly Blanc is more than a match for most Sancerres. Kimmeridgian clay-limestone lies beneath the surface of the vineyard, which is strafed with the eponymous pierres plates. Even in a warm vintage like 2018, this is an intensely mineral wine, with an enticing but relatively discrete bouquet, chalky texture and long, gently saline finish. Drink now to 2021.
Will Heslop, Burgundy Buying Assistant (summer 2019)

The Dezat family have long been standard-bearers for Sancerre, and this wine illustrates precisely why. Ebullient yet terroir-driven, its complex bouquet combines tropical fruit with classic citrus and herbaceous aromas. The 2018 was blended from parcels on three different soil types – primarily the pebbly limestone known here as caillottes – then spent two months on its lees (in stainless steel tanks) gaining complexity and texture prior to bottling in spring 2019. Drink now to 2022.
Will Heslop, Burgundy Buying Assistant (summer 2019)

Their delicious rosé is the one wine from Domaine Chotard that’s raised exclusively in stainless steel. The aim is to capture the floral lift and red-berry crunch inherent in Pinot Noir grown on the pebbly limestone soil known here as griottes. Expect aromas of rose petals and tinned strawberries, while the palate – for all its lively acidity – is a touch weightier than expected, with ripe red fruit flavours indicative of 2018’s warm growing season. A versatile food wine, this works particularly well with grilled salmon. Drink now to 2020.
Will Heslop, Burgundy Buying Assistant (summer 2019)

Expressive and voluptuous, with aromas of orchard fruit and lemon confit, Les Boucauds is raised in a judicious combination of oak (70% of the blend) and concrete. Open and up-front it may be, but this cuvée shows remarkable persistence on the palate, culminating in the mineral “wet stone” finish characteristic of the best wines of Sancerre. Already certified organic, Stéphane began farming Les Boucauds biodynamically in 2018. Drink now to 2023.
Will Heslop, Burgundy Buying Assistant (summer 2019)

Chasseignes is a cooler, more (lime)stoney site than Boucauds, giving a more focused, mineral wine which Stéphane chooses to age in large oak foudres and 350-litre barrels. The nose is complex, with aromas of spice, white flowers and lemon, while the palate is pithy, almost tannic, and segues into a long, refreshing finish redolent of lemon and quinine. What a match for oysters this would be! Drink now to 2023.
Will Heslop, Burgundy Buying Assistant (summer 2019)

This is such a moreish, refreshing wine from our friends at Domaine de la Semellerie. Half the blend is from Cabernet Franc grapes that are pressed (as though making a white), while the other half is juice drawn off from the domaine’s excellent red. Expect enticing aromas of strawberry laces and just a touch of peppery spice. The palate is light-bodied, with the lively acidity that’s among the hallmarks of Chinon. This a fabulous ap’eritif and versatile food wine – try it with lamb koftas or barbecued chicken wings. Drink now to 2020.
Will Heslop, Burgundy Buying Assistant (summer 2019)

This fabulous rosé is made exclusively from Pinot Gris, grown in the Chatillons vineyard, which Denis harvests first to deliver a wine with great freshness, as well as texture and complexity. On the nose, expect aromas of rose petal, red fruit and an intriguing hint of orange peel. Four months on its fine lees adds a touch more weight to the palate. A versatile food wine, it works particularly well with poached salmon. Drink now to 2020.
Will Heslop, Burgundy Buying Assistant (spring 2019)