Producer | Dominique Roger (Domaine du Carrou) |
Country | France |
Region | Loire Valley |
Subregion | Sancerre |
Varietal | Sauvignon Blanc |
Vintage | 2023 |
Sku | 12017359 |
Size | 750ml |
The Sauvignon Blanc grape is a hearty soul, one of the parent varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, and one that does well in many parts of the world. South Africa, California, Chile, and especially New Zealand where it is the country’s flagship grape. Its citrus tinged intense aromas and lovely clean crisp character making it one of the top white wine varietals in the world, and one of the most food friend, versatile wines as well.
But it is in the exceptional terroir and perfect climate of the eastern Loire Valley where this grape arguably achieves its highest expression. The mix of Oxfordian limestone, Kimmeridgian limestone, silex, better known here as flint, each play a role in the mineral driven focus and nerve that set great Sancerre apart from “ordinary” Sauvignon Blanc. Add to that the cool, continental climate and you have a perfect storm for producing intense, crisp and focused whites.
In recent years, Sancerre has become wildly popular as tastes shifted from rich oak driven wines to crisp, higher acid and refreshingly unoaked wines. As a result there are oceans of mediocre Sancerre from large growers (the region produces about 20 million bottles per year!) on the market, and the top grower’s prices have risen, with many now selling in the $40’s, $50’s and even $75 and more.
And that is what makes Dominique Roger’s Domaine Carrou Sancerre such an incredible value! Eight generations of the Roger family have been growing grapes in this region since the 17th century, and to say they know the lay of the land is an understatement. This is 100% textbook Sauvignon Blanc grown in the sloping vineyards around the village of Bué, one of the best in the region. Vines are 30+ years old, in soils composed of silex, terres blanches and caillotes.
It is the perfect seafood and shellfish wine, salads, certain Asian dishes, chevre cheese especially, all kinds of salads and all on its own. This has been our most popular white wine to date!