Domaine Pastou, Sauvignon Blanc, Vieilles Vignes Sancerre, Loire Valley, France 2024

100% Sauvignon Blanc

Aromas of lime and lemon zest, with a touch of firecracker smoke (from the flinty soils). Flavors of crisp pear, grapefruit and kumquat.

The petite village of Sury-en-Vaux, northwest of Sancerre, is the secret home of the extraordinarily character-rich wines of the Pastou family. Winemaker Jean-Marc Pastou for some 30 years has followed a singular calling to make the most honest and terroir-true Sancerre his few acres will give.

His vineyards sit at the highest point in the village, and his older vines (that he planted himself) grow on perfect terroir: the classic chalky stones and flinty soils which give Sancerre its characteristic zip.

Vines are 40+ years old. Grapes are harvested by hand, and fermented on indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled, stainless-steel tanks; wines are aged in tank on fine lees, and bottled unfined and unfiltered.