Chotard’s 2008 Sancerre Cuvee Marcel Henri – named for his father and uncle who planted the estate’s oldest Sauvignon vines and aged on its lees for 18 months – displays the bright, invigorating, and intensely mineral virtues of its vintage without straying into the realm of stridency or bitterness. In fact, this is quite refined in texture, and loaded with positively tart lime, white currant, passion fruit, and grapefruit, hints of white pepper along with salt and chalk helping render the finish insistently invigorating. It should be a delight over the next 12-18 months. 90 Points, The Wine Advocate (2010) The terroir of Sancerre is widely regarded as producing one of the greatest expressions of the Sauvignon Blanc grape. Sancerre was once more celebrated for its red wine, a Parisian bistro favorite. The Chotards grow Pinot Noir as well, used to make both red wine and rosé. The hilltop town of Sancerre is surrounded by a commune of villages that collectively make up its eponymous appellation, and each village is blessed with varieties of a distinct limestone that imbues a lengthy mineral component to its wines. Daniel farms the slopes of the village Crezancy-en-Sancerre, where flint meets clay and the famous Kimmeridgian limestone.
Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant | 
