2021 Sancerre Les Chasseignes

The 2021 Sancerre Les Chasseignes opens with an excitingly pure, mineral and coolish (limestone) nose with mocha and very fine phenolic aromas reminiscent of gooseberries. Predominantly sourced in the upper part of the limestone lieu-dit where Riffault holds 7.5 well-ventilated acres, the wine opens with a pure and rocky bouquet of iodine, dashes of lemon juice and hints of mocha. Aged in large barrels of 2,000 liters (and some smaller barrels) for 14 months, this is a full-bodied, pure, fresh and saline Sancerre with intensity, fine and mealy tannin grip and lively mineral acidity that carries the wine to a quite long, pure and naked finish with lots of mineral tension, grip, lime zest and iodine flavors. This is not really austere (too juicy) but a kind of wine with thrills and tension as well as energy. Biodynamic farming. 13% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in March 2023.

This is a barrel sample of the 2021 Sancerre Les Chasseignes and shows its reduction on the nose as it hasn't yet been racked. There's a good sense of weight and tenderness through the mid palate while remaining delicate. Limestone-clay, of which the dominant is limestone giving a refined, drawn-out finish that's scented with elderflower, citrus and pineapple. A combination of the acidity and limestone gives an enveloping texture that lightly hugs your mouth. Really holds the crisp vintage well.