Berthier Sancerre Les Chasseignes

Jean-Marie Berthier, a highly skilled wine producer from Loire valley, created this estate in the early 1980’s. Today, his two sons Clément and Florian have taken over the domaine to produce a distinctive range of wines, covering a variety of styles and Loire appellations as the estate has expanded. Having previously worked in Burgundy, New Zealand and the USA, Clément and Florian brought a modern approach; looking to produce clean, precise wines which display a distinct sense of their origins, including some of the finest reds of the Centre-Loire as well as brilliant whites such as this. The grapes from this outstanding single-vineyard Sancerre come from a plot of old vines, planted in clay-limestone chalk soil. Les Chasseignes lies on a slope in the village of Sury en vaux. As soon as they arrive in the winery, the harvested grapes are delicately pressed and the juice obtained is allowed to settle for around 36 hours. The alcoholic fermentation starts naturally at a controlled of the temperature. The wine is then matured for a few months on its fine lees until the bottling is carried out in the spring. A brilliant expression of Sauvignon Blanc which demonstrates the often overlooked ageing capacity of this grape, especially from the Loire Valley. This is approaching its peak, with a broad-textured palate layered with flavours of yellow plum, quince, green herbs and lime alongside hints of honey and wet stone. A compelling Sancerre.