2019 Now finished: SANCERRE, Les Chasseignes, Claude Riffault. Loire Valley

Sancerre is a famous village in the Loire Valley, near Orleans, more or less due south of Paris. This part of the ‘upper’ (i.e. inland) Loire specialises in Sauvignon Blanc (Chenin dominates most of the river).

100% Sauvignon Blanc, matured for a year in wood (but old wood – there is no ‘oakiness’ here).

Stéphane Riffault is the fifth generation to run his family’s estate. They are based in Sury-en-Vaux but their 15 hectares are split between 33 different parcels of land around the Sancerre area. Les Chasseignes is a vineyard with pure limestone soil.

A powerful, serious style of Sancerre, with ‘minerality’ above fruitiness. Broad and rich but with more than a hint of wet stone, grass and smoke.