2017  La Moussiere

La Moussiere -- In 2013, this historic estate celebrates its 500th anniversary - 19 successive generations of winegrowers in the Mellot family. Today Alphonse Jr. is in total charge, having taken over the reigns from his father Alphonse Sr. fully five years ago. The property, known as La Moussiere, is now at the height of quality for white wines world-wide. All farming is organic and certified biodynamic, with an elite team in the vineyards focused on low yields and ideal ripeness. Their Sauvignons have acquired a rare precision and each parcel is well-defined, perhaps even more so with the reds. This fascination for Pinot Noir has led Alphonse, together with Vincent Geantet (of Geantet-Pansiot in Gevrey-Chambertin), to re-establish a medieval vineyard, known as Les Penitents, on the other side of the Loire River, just south of Pouilly-Fume.

2020  Sancerre

2021  Sancerre

"Depicting a bucolic scene of the church in Boulay's home of Chavignol along with a couple of goats - this is home to the cheese crottin de Chavignol - the 2021 Sancerre is a rich and impressive style that's full of nectarine fruit. Vinified in barrel, there's a roundness to Sauvignon's normally angular edge and a hint of sweetness although Boulay insists it is fully dry. The white limestone soils provide the tender texture, but there's a real sense of structural grip on the long finish. Delicious now but based on historic examples, will be even better in 10 years. At the end of the tasting Boulay mentioned the wines had been open for several days before my arrival, and I will endeavor to taste fresh samples." - 92pts Vinous

2021  Sancerre

Sancerre

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2020  

2021  

2017  

2018  Vin de France

An extraordinary blend of several sites this wine is simultaneously accessible, racy & elegant. Gorgeous citrus notes and sparkling minerality.

2016  Jardins de Babylone Sec

Dagueneau’s makes a limited number of bottles of dry wine from these beloved Jurancon hectares. The aim is to produce a wine that brings out the natural minerality of the soil and have balance, harmony and longevity. Concentrated, racy and extremely memorable.

2014  Jardins de Babylone

Jardins de Babylone -- Extremely limited production. This dessert wine was considered by Didier himself to be the finest of all his wines. Made from Petit Manseng grown biodynamically on Silex (clay and flint) soil in a natural amphitheater of vines at the foot of the Pyranees near the village of Aubertin. Barrel fermented and aged mostly in 450 and 600 liter barrels, as well as some of Dagueneau's famous cigar barrels. Designed by the late Didier, these barrels are 350 liters and aggressively elongated. Dagueneau’s approach is to produce wines that bring out the natural minerality of the soil and have balance, harmony and longevity. The relative sweetness of each vintage is secondary to the balance of acidity, texture and richness of fruit and the wines will never be chaptalized.

2019  Chavignol

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An idiosyncratic, intriguing wine that is about as far from standard Sancerre as you'll get, and for that, Cotat will be relieved. The 2019 Sancerre Culs de Beaujeu has great concentration, and the gentle handling translates into delicacy of fruit. However, it’s far from a fruity wine; you'll find floral notes, an iodine-like character and nutty nuances (old barrels, including large formats, are preferred). It retains a sense of freshness and an almost briny essence on the long finish." - 95pts Vinous ----

Iconic and idiosyncratic, the wines of François Cotat are codeword for cellar-worthy Sancerre. Chavignol born and bred, Cotat has five hectares on Sancerre’s most famed hillsides: Les Monts Damnés and Le Cul de Beaujeu and the lesser-known Grands Côtes, which has a similar exposition to Cul de Beaujeu. He makes four cuvées and has always been hands off, shunning modern technology that his generation embraced: "the young generation are doing things more simply, and I have more in common with them; although, they think I’m a bear," he says. The grapes are hand harvested - often late, he is one of the last to pick his fruit from these top sites and that means high degrees of ripeness. Fermentations are wild, there’s no settling so ferments are high solids, and he doesn’t filter so all the goodness is left in. The wines all have an intensity of concentration that comes from low yields on a top site and impressive structure. Are they classic Sancerre? No, they’re Cotat. ---- 100% Sauvignon Blanc A famed single-vineyard in Chavignol Southeast facing, very cool site Steep slope with kimmeridgian limestone 50+ year old vines Indigenous yeast Fermented in very old demi-muids and aged in old barrels Unfined and unfiltered