Domaine Francois Crochet, Sancerre, Chêne Marchand, Loire, France, 2023

Producer Profile

To the southwest of the town of Sancerre, lies the tiny commune of Bué. Here you find François Crochet single handedly managing his 10 hectares.

Doing much of the work in the vineyards himself, he is committed to hand harvesting to help maintain the quality of the resulting wine. Unable to make enough wine to keep pace with demand these wines are some of the most precise and refined Sancerres you will ever get to taste.

Viticulture

Le Chêne Marchand is the name of a south and south east facing the village of Bué. These vines grow on a chalky soil known as ‘caillottes’, meaning tiny flat stones covering the ground and which have the particularity to restitute day heat at night. These vines are around 45 years old on average. Certified organic viticulture since 2017, they also practice biodynamic farming hope for certification from the 2023 vintage. Grapes are hand harvested and rigorously sorted. The yield aimed for this cuvée varies between 40 and 45 hl per ha.

Winemaking

Whole grape pressing combined with a sequential program allow a very gentle extraction of the juice. After a settling period the juice is racked and the alcoholic fermentation takes place both in oak vats. When completed the wine is matured on its fine lees for 16 to 18 months. Then a light filtration is performed on cellulose plates before the bottling takes place.

Tasting Note

A very fresh, pure and aromatic wine. This Sancerre is complex and concentrated with gooseberry, blackcurrant leaf and hints of honey overlaid with minerality and held tightly by a core of acidity. The finish is elegant and long with flint and ripe apple leaving a lasting impression.

Food Matching

The crisp acidity and minerality makes this an excellent choice to accompany shellfish and seafood dishes.