Vacheron sits at the top of Sancerre's hierarchy, and cousins Jean-Laurent and Jean-Dominique farm it organically and biodynamically. Certified by Biodyvin back in 2005, well before it was fashionable. The village bottling blends their eastern holdings on hard flint with smaller parcels on limestone and clay, 30- to 50-year-old vines pulling structure and minerality from both. It's Sauvignon Blanc with definition rather than noise. Proof that the grape's best expression has nothing to do with volume.
Tasting Notes
With cellars located in the charming, hilltop town of Sancerre, Jean-Laurent and Jean-Dominique Vacheron have vineyards in mainly the eastern part of Sancerre on hard, flinty soils as well as smaller holding on softer limestone and clay soils. Their “village” Sancerre bottling draws from both terroirs to create a subtle, mineral and completely satisfying wine. One of the few estates in Sancerre to harvest entirely by hand this wine is fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged in tank for at least 4 months before bottling.
Professional Ratings
93
James Suckling
93
Wine Advocate
92
Wine Enthusiast
90
Vinous
About the Producer
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.
