Domaine Girault Sancerre Blanc

Tasting note:

Round, aromas of pineapple, Intense floral aromas with notes of exotic fruit

Sancerre

The whole world has admired the wines of the Sancerre wine region for decades. This is perhaps the only French region where a whole range of interesting wines are made in all kinds of styles and from only a small number of grape varieties. Among connoisseurs of Sauvignon Blanc, Sancerre is considered the essence of the variety's refined and mineral style. Let's take a look at the characteristics of the trendsetting appellation

The appellation, called Sancerre, consists of the village of Sancerre itself and 14 arrondissements located on the left bank of the Loire, from Montigny in the south to Bannay in the north. The appellation's vineyards cover approximately 2,800 hectares...

Sancerre vineyards date back to Roman times, as do those of every major wine region. On the banks of the Loire, near the location of the modern-day municipality of San Thibault, a port called Gorton emerged, from which local wines and other goods could be easily shipped to all corners of the area.

Monks were active in winemaking in the region during the Middle Ages, as in other parts of Europe. The Augustinians of Saint-Satur Abbey may have been the first to plant Burgundian Pinot noir here in the sixteenth century. Before the phylloxera outbreak in the nineteenth century, Sancerre was mainly a red wine region. Pinot noir and Gamay were grown here, along with a small amount of Chasselas blanc. However, during the restoration of the vineyard, a disease-resistant Sauvignon blanc was chosen.

Sancerre was one of the first French regions to receive AOC recognition in 1936, but only for its white wines. The Reds were finally recognized in 1959, after a long period of obscurity.

The exceptional Sancerre soil plays one of the most important roles in shaping the taste of the region's wines. Nearly 40% of the vineyards are located on calcareous soils in the western part of the region. Many of them are located on the slopes, which are called "white lands" and are considered the best both for the cultivation of Sauvignon blanc and Pinot noir. In eastern Sancerre, siliceous areas have made the "powder" note and recognizable minerality in wines their distinguishing feature and also give them a pleasant acidity. The remaining soils consist of pebbles or lime pebbles

Sancerre wine is praised by wine connoisseurs around the world. Its uniqueness comes from the fact that only a few grape varieties are grown in the Sancerre region. Pinot Noir and Gamay are used to make red and rosé wines, and Sauvignon Blanc is used to make white wines. There is nothing in the composition that is "superfluous".

The predominant variety of the Sancerre grape is Sauvignon Blanc, a popular choice among wine enthusiasts. It is said to have arrived in the Loire from southwestern France. And while he regularly meets in an assembly with Semillon at home, he performs solo in the central Loire. Sauvignon produces bright, acidic wines with notes of lemon, gooseberry, freshly cut grass and blackcurrant leaves when grown in a cool area. It can have a subtle smoky note, which is why it is also known as "fumé blanc" from the French fumé, meaning "smoky".

To avoid overshadowing the fruity flavor with a barrel, Sauvignon blanc is usually not aged in wood. In contrast, some winemakers continue to experiment with aging, resulting in complex wines with aromas of tropical fruit and sweet spices.

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