Domaine Michel Vattan, Cuvée ‘C-O’ Sancerre Blanc, 2022, Loire Valley, France

Sancerre is just fruit & a bunch of sea pebbles, right? Nope, this is Sancerre Geekery 101.

About the wine

Sancerre is just fruit and a bunch of sea pebbles, right? Negatory – this is Sancerre Geekery 101 at its finest. Sauvignon Blanc vines cling on for dear life on the steep south-facing slope of Cotelin, one of the oldest vineyards of Maimbray, and give birth to tiny berry bombs of concentrated might. The grapes are painstakingly hand-harvested and then aged in 400 L barrels for 10 months, which adds a savoury and complex foundation; this Sancerre is more complex and savoury. Pascal recommends keeping this for several years, but we don’t blame you for indulging in sipping the finest liquid cashmere now.

Tasting notes

This wine displays a pale straw colour with green tinges. The nose is expressive, featuring aromas of citrus fruits like grapefruit and lime, complemented by notes of white peach, gooseberry, and a hint of minerality. On the palate, it is elegant with a lively acidity, offering flavours of lemon zest, green apple, and subtle floral nuances, leading to a crisp and refreshing finish.

About the winemaker

Located northwest of Sancerre is the sleepy storybook village of Sury-en-Vaux, where Roger and Andrée Vattan established the family business and purchased the first 2 football fields' worth of vines in 1930. The lucky recipient of the family business was their son, Michel, who grew this pocket-sized estate into a whopping 9-hectare estate and was supported by Nathalie and Pascal Joulin, who joined the estate in 2002. Understanding the know-hows of Domaine Michel Vattan, and with no Vattan heir in sight, Nathalie and Pascal were armed to take over the estate in 2008. Since then, the Joulins are guided by the rhythms of Mother Nature to grow high-quality fruit that transforms into nervy Sancerres of Domaine Michel Vattan.