From: Sancerre, Loire Valley, France
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Tasting Notes: A delicate bouquet of bright grapefruit, gooseberry, pretty white peach, chalk, and light floral notes lead to an elegantly balanced and restrained palate that rides on a crystalline, river rock minerality with a lingering, smooth, slightly saline finish. Driven by the influence of the famous soils—caillotes, silex, and Kimmeridgian limestone—this wine encapsulates the Loire Valley style of mineral-driven Sauvignon Blanc. In essence, this is a wine without pungent aromas or searing acidity. This Sancerre shows off Sauvignon Blanc's svelte, lithe side.
Pairing: This Sancerre can elevate a wide range of dishes, from fish and shellfish to crisp salads with citrus vinaigrettes, grilled vegetables, or gently spiced hot dishes. P.S. “Gently spiced” isn’t an exaggeration. Using the recipe below as an example (which you should try, it’s delicious), omit the chile, increase the mustard and pepper, and add lime zest. You could also consider serving it with the local specialty, ‘Crottin de Chavignol’ goat’s milk cheese.
Now to the recipe. How about an amazing weeknight pasta dish that sounds way more difficult than it is and is perfect for dazzling guests?! If you’re a seafood lover, try this Spicy Crab Linguine with Mustard, Crème Fraîche and Herbs by David Tanis. It’ll yield 4-6 servings and take about 20 minutes to make once you source the right ingredients.
About. For 11 generations, the Prieur family has been wine growers in the village of Verdigny, Sancerre. The present proprietors and winemakers are Luc Prieur and his father Didier (who took over from his father Paul in 1973). Three generations of Prieurs receive clients and visitors coming to the Domaine for generations. Luc joined the team in 2010 after completing his enology studies in Beaune and stages in Burgundy and England.
For the 2010 vintage, the Domaine acquired a new pneumatic press and renovated and expanded their cellars. As a result, the Prieurs can eliminate exposure to air at pressing times to capture all of the vivid aromas and flavors of ripe fruit and minerals of their Sauvignon Blanc grapes. The hallmark of the Prieur Sancerre Blanc is its ideal combination of verve, balance, and length. They are practicing organic and have experimented with biodynamics.
Domaine Paul Prieur’s 2022 ‘Mise d’Été’ Sancerre Blanc comes from Sauvignon Blanc planted in Verdigny and Chavignol, in the northwest and western parts of Sancerre, on three terroirs: 40% caillottes (stony soils around Chavignol), 40% silex, and 20% Kimmeridgian white soils. The grapes were pressed pneumatically, vinified (with no added SO2), and aged for eight to ten months in stainless steel tank (95%) and new 228- liter barrels (5%) with no filtration.
