Daniel Chotard - Sancerre Blanc (Reigny) 2021 (12.5% ABV) 750ml

Daniel Chotard and his wife, Brigitte, live just outside Sancerre in the village of Reigny. The Chotard family has been making wine for well over two hundred years, though Daniel was initially reluctant to accept the family vocation and started as a teacher. Daniel is a bit of a Renaissance man. His enthusiasm and passion for learning extends beyond wine and into music; he is a gifted guitarist and accordion player. He organizes lively music and wine soirées that showcase wine as an equally compelling art form to jazz. The couple has now passed the reigns onto their son, Simon.

mix of young and old vines (5-65 years) from Chotard's 10 hectares of clay, limestone, and  Kimmeridgian marl. This estate is known for harvesting a bit later than most of their neighbors, resulting in a slightly weightier, more complex style of Sancerre (which avoids much of the typical green bell pepper note that can dominate earlier picked Sauvignon Blanc). Parcels are vinified separately depending on the specific soil types, leading to a great display of terroir. 

Textbook Sancerre with a bit more weight and depth - elegant bouquet of white flower blossom, citrus fruit, and crushed limestone. Medium bodied and racy with bright layers of gooseberry, lemongrass, green apple and impressive minerality repeating on the dry finish. Exquisite balance.

region: Loire Valley, France

varietal: Sauvignon Blanc

style:

farming/cellar: sustainable farming converting to Certified Organic (2022 will be first vintage certified), hand harvested, hand sorted, grapes are immediately de-stemmed and pressed after the harvest, Juice transferred from press to tank by gravity, Must undergoes cold-soak for 3 or 4 days, ambient yeast, Vinification in temperature-controlled stainless steel tank and foudre, Wine ages on the lees until bottling, Wine does not go through malolactic fermentation

pairing: