Sancerre blanc „Les Denisottes“ AOC 2023

Wine description for Sancerre blanc „Les Denisottes“ AOC 2023 by Claude Riffault

Colour & Appearance

Vibrant straw yellow with green reflections – a wine that promises substance and energy from the very first glance.

Nose

Here Claude Riffault’s signature emerges in its purest form: not a trace of the usual Sauvignon clichés, no obtrusive gooseberry or cat’s pee. Instead, a remarkably disciplined aromatics profile with lemon and lime zest, wet slate, oyster shell and delicate white flowers. The nose is stony, cool and possessed of a precision that commands respect.

Palate

Energetic, positively pulsing on the attack – this Sancerre has drive. The texture surprises: creamy-elegant, yet underpinned by a stony, austere minerality that gives the wine backbone. The fruit shines through restrained yet succulent extract, which despite all its austerity develops a charming depth. This is Sauvignon Blanc for grown-ups: complex, structured, without a shred of gratuitousness.

Finish

Long, mineral and possessed of a freshness that invites you to take another sip. The absence of malolactic fermentation reveals itself here in all its consequence: taut, precise, with vibrant acidity.

Terroir & Origin

Three parcels near Sury-en-Vaux, totalling 1.1 hectares at approximately 260 metres altitude. South-easterly exposure on flat terrain. The 40 to 53-year-old vines are rooted in classic Kimmeridge limestone – that clayey-marly stone which gives Sancerre its unmistakable tension and depth.

Grape Variety & Vinification

100% Sauvignon Blanc. Hand-harvested with vineyard selection, slow pneumatic pressing, spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Aged for 14 months in previously used wooden barrels on the lees, rarely stirred. No malolactic fermentation – a deliberate choice for freshness and structure.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Oysters, scallops, Loire Valley goat’s cheese (naturally!), poached turbot, sushi or ceviche. The wine also pairs well with bolder flavours: roasted monkfish or asparagus with Hollandaise sauce.

Special Characteristics

A Sancerre that demonstrates what this appellation is capable of when terroir and craftsmanship come together. Claude Riffault vinifies with minimal intervention and maximum precision – the result is a wine of rare clarity and authenticity.