Sancerre AOC
The Sancerre winegrowing area dates back to the Romans. The name Sancerre may have come from the modification of “César le Sacré” (Caesar the Sacred), into “Saint-Cere”. Located in the Central Loire Valley region, Sancerre borders the Menetou-Salon and Pouilly Fumé appellations. It is known for its Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir produced on very particular soils. Sancerre features a mosaic of terroirs, made up of many geological layers, including Kimmeridgian marl (these terroirs known as terres blanches have the same clay and limestone composition as in Chablis and Sainte-Croix-du Mont), Oxfordian limestone (known as caillottes), and siliceous-clay covered with visible deposits of flint. The vineyards are planted on hillsides facing south and south-east at an altitude of around 300 metres.
White Sancerre (from Sauvignon Blanc) often shows aromas of white fruit and citrus with stony notes. As for red Sancerre (Pinot Noir), it can have aromas of red and morello cherry when made in a fresh style, or can be more intense, with notes of black fruit and a more developed tannic structure.
Producers to look out for include Clos la Neore Edmond Vatan and Domaine Delaporte, as well as Didier Dagueneau, Vincent Pinard and Alphonse Mellot.
