The Sancerre appellation is situated on porous limestone and hard flint soil near the head of the country’s longest river, the Loire. It’s located right in the middle of France. Domaine Vacheron is just a ten-minute walk from the center of town. This is a family winery in the truest sense – it’s also widely recognized as a pioneering, elite producer of Sancerre. The original five hectares, established by Jean-Louis Vacheron in 1968, have grown to 43 hectares. Today, the Domaine comprises some of the finest sites in the central vineyards of the Loire Valley. Cousins Jean-Dominque and Jean-Laurent Vacheron manage the Domaine.

Much of the Domaine Vacheron is planted to Sauvignon Blanc, but there are about 12 hectares of Pinot Noir planted to produce red Sancerre which is an unusually high proportion for the appellation and a wine the Domaine is particularly noted for. The Domaine continues to hand-harvest their vineyards even as many Sancerre growers have introduced mechanical harvesting. Vineyards are Certified Organic and biodynamic, and no synthetic chemicals are introduced. They employ traditional winemaking techniques, with white wines fermented in small stainless-steel tanks or old open-top wood vessels, always by native yeast. Red wines undergo malolactic fermentation in barriques.

This bottling is an impressive introduction to the celestial wines of Sancerre. The Les Romains is a delicious and refined Sancerre with a sophistication that is a reminder of how important pedigree and dedication to old world winemaking techniques is in bringing consistent quality to lovers of Loire Valley wines. Pure colors of bright yellow with golden hues radiate from the glass. The aromas are complex with layers of sliced Bosc pears, lemon zest, and citrus oil with a delightful hint of smokiness and flint. The palate is medium bodied with a lovely texture lifted by bright acidity and a crisp mouth-feel. The finish projects a phenomenal length along with elements of salinity. The Les Romains is a noteworthy Sancerre crafted in the classic old-world way that will age beautifully for years to come.

By Perry Miroballi