Team C&J
When conversations in the wine world turn to “the best Sauvignon Blanc producers in Sancerre” Lucien Crochet is always at the top of the list. The wines from this Loire Valley producer are crisp, focused, and have the most beautiful balance of minerality and fresh citrus zest.
As prices for French wines in Burgundy and Bordeaux become increasingly unattainable for the average wine lover, Sancerre offers a great alternative, and bottles are often incredibly budget-friendly.
Winemaker Gilles Crochet inherited Domaine Lucien Crochet from his father, Lucien Crochet. The estate is actually the result of combining two of the family’s legacy vineyards, that of Gilles’ grandfather on his father’s side, André Crochet, and that of his grandfather on his mother’s side, Lucien Picard.
The Picard-Crochet family is considered a pioneer in Sancerre. They were one of the first families to sell their small-lot wines to respectable Paris restaurants and bottle shops. A big accomplishment in the 1950s.
Gilles, a respected winemaker in his own right, oversees the property’s 35 hectares of grapes, most of which sit in Bué. Adjacent plots are also farmed in Crézancy and Vinon.
Interestingly, Gilles did not study winemaking in his home region of Sancerre. Instead, he studied enology in Burgundy – in Dijon, to be exact. His style of winemaking was molded by an internship and more formal training at the much-lauded Burgundy powerhouse Domaine Dujac in Morey-Saint-Denis. Learning about the farming and winemaking techniques at this esteemed estate, especially as they applied to Pinot Noir, gave Gilles the opportunity to learn what may or may not work at his home vineyards.
Since taking over the winemaking at the family estate, Gilles has produced over 30 vintages of the Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc (the winery’s most popular variety), a rose crafted from estate-grown Pinot Noir, and a stand-alone bottling of this noble red grape.
The first thing wine aficionados should remember about Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc is that it does not have the bold grassiness of the Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand’s Marlborough. The white wines from this Loire Valley region tend to be more nuanced, “flinty,” and have a slightly fuller body.
Another significant difference in the two regions is the soil: Sancerre and Marlborough couldn’t be more different, and the impact that each distinct site is partly responsible for the profile of the resulting grapes. Sancerre is known for calcareous clay and Kimmeridgian, which is layered with millions of years’ worth of fossilized sea animals. Kimmeridgian is the same soil found in Champagne and Chablis.
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, on the other hand, is grown in dense clay soil or stone-heavy sites that were once ancient riverbeds.
All of the grapes in this bottle of 2022 Lucien Crochet Sancerre are sustainability-produced, and organic methods have been used in the vineyards since 1989. Gilles likes to take a lighter approach to the harvest, and the fruit that makes it into the bottles at this domain have been hand-picked and gently handled.
Pairing food with Sancerre is a delight. This medium-bodied, acid-driven wine pairs well with lighter meats like roasted chicken, grilled fish (salmon and trout are favorites), and pork chops. And, in a delicious example of what grows together, goes together, Sancerre is wonderful with France’s creamy goat cheese – or any goat cheese, for that matter!
This Sancerre is a pale lemon in the glass with a youthful nose and moderately intense aromas. Citrusy lemon and lime zest dominate the bouquet, but there are also pleasant “green” qualities like bell pepper, asparagus, celery, and floral elderflower.
Like other well-made Sancerre wines, the palate is bursting with bright notes of lemon-lime, minerally chalk, and grass-like celery. A refreshing vegetal element comes through in the form of a subtle note of asparagus. This is an acidic, medium-bodied Sauvignon Blanc with a clean texture, thanks to the stainless steel fermentation.
The Domaine Lucien Crochet Sancerre is one of the most recognizable and respected examples of Sauvignon Blanc from this acclaimed region. Unlike their neighbors in Burgundy, you can still find incredible values from the world’s best producers in this Loire Valley gem. This bottle is one you won’t want to miss.
France
Sancerre
Sauvignon Blanc
14
Gilles Crochet
49–55°F / 9–12°C
Chardonnay
Not Needed
Now to 2025
Domaine Lucien Crochet
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