2014 Domaine La Croix Saint-Laurent Sancerre Blanc

Region: Loire Valley < France
Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic farming Terra Vitas Certified, calcareous clay/limestone soil, minimal SO2 at bottling
Winemaker: Joël and Sylvie Cirotte

I’ve always loved Sancerre, and was saddened to learn that it is among most commercially-produced wines. Very little is made from organic grapes, with native yeast, low sulfites, etc. So I was thrilled to find this beautiful, classic and CLEAN bottle from a small family producer, certified sustainable by a French organization, Terra Vitas, that goes beyond organic requirements in terms of care for the land. The Cirottes, along with their son Fabien, farm 9.5 hectares in Bué, on a hillside overlooking the Loire River. After hand harvesting, the grapes ferment for fifteen days in stainless steel, and are left on the lees until bottling.  This is pure, expressive, Sauvignon Blanc from the chalky soils of Sancerre, with bright, fresh citrus (lemon, lime, grapefruit), green apple, and some exotic kiwi and lemongrass notes.