Domaine Vacheron, Sancerre Blanc, 2022

In the land of Sancerre, the Vacheron family is probably one of the most powerful clans.

Their prime position atop the appellation's best flint soils, rich in fossilized materials, imbue their Sauvignon Blancs with that minerality and smokiness you and I both love.

A super premium producer, they use indigenous, wild yeast fermentation - instead of cultured yeast like lots of mainstream producers. This means you get complex flavour profiles in the final product which lifts this above other Sancerres I've tried.

From the family’s pioneering work in identifying and exploring the region’s top terroirs to their leading position in biodynamic viticulture, there are few if any artisans today in Sancerre as exacting or as respected.

2022 saw a fab vintage in the area. A hot, dry summer ushered the grapes to phenolic ripeness. The resulting fruit was rich and ripe at the time of picking, while still retaining the all-important acidity and aromatics.