Domaine Vacheron, Sauvignon Blanc, Sancerre "Les Romains" Loire Valley, France 2023

Les Romains is a flint terroir located in the eastern part of Sancerre. Here the soils have a strong resemblance to the terroir across the Loire river in Pouilly-Fumé. There is a definite smoky and flinty quality to the wine that is backed with a piquant and delicate citrus fruitiness reminiscent of grapefruit.

Domaine Vacheron is one of Sancerre’s elite properties, producing white and red Sancerre of amazing purity and definition. The Domaine has been completely transformed over to biodynamic farming (certified by Biodyvin in 2005) with two young cousins, Jean-Laurent and Jean-Dominique Vacheron, at the helm. No synthetic material is used in the vineyard, harvests are carried out exclusively by hand, and the only fertilizer used is produced from the compost pile. Yields are kept extremely low.

Having inherited some of the most coveted parcels in the appellation (and being smart about current land purchases), the cousins are trying a Burgundian approach to Sancerre winemaking, with parcels being vinified by terroir and blends varying from year to year.

Vacheron is primarily a “silex” producer. Silex (flint) is found primarily in the eastern part of the appellation (and across the river in Pouilly Fumé). Almost all of Vacheron’s holdings are on this hard minerally soil type. Flint produces vertical, long-aging Sancerre bottlings and the Vacheron boys’ biggest aim is to let this shine.