Sancerre blanc „Les Herses“ AOC 2022

Wine description for Sancerre blanc „Les Herses“ AOC 2022 by Matthias Planchon

Colour & Appearance

Intense straw yellow with brilliant clarity – a Sancerre that visually displays its two years of ageing on fine lees.

Nose

Fine and delicate, already remarkably open for a young Sancerre. White flowers, honeysuckle and white tea meet white-fleshed stone and pip fruits. Beneath lies a taut mineral layer: limestone, chalk and oyster shell, along with mint and a hint of ash. With air contact, a floating, iodine-maritime breeze develops.

Palate

Precise, clear, forceful – here the full elegance of the terroir reveals itself. A slender, vibrant acidity drives the wine forward, accompanied by fine bitterness and zestiness. Notes of green-ripe stone fruit and limes, subtle oak nuances from barrel ageing. The wine unites power with refined finesse – never clumsy, always controlled.

Finish

Long, mineral, with sustained freshness and a saline trace that invites the next sip.

Terroir & Origin

The vineyard site Les Herses in Ménétreol-sous-Sancerre encompasses just under one hectare with south-easterly exposure on clay and flint – that flint stone which gives Sancerre its characteristic tension. The 47-year-old Sauvignon Blanc vines with 7,700 plants per hectare yield concentrated yet elegant grapes.

Grape Variety & Vinification

100% Sauvignon Blanc, hand-harvested and gentle pneumatic pressing. Spontaneous fermentation 40% in stainless steel, 60% in amphorae and 600-litre barrels. Two years of ageing on fine lees, followed by a further year in stainless steel. Bottling according to the lunar cycle, unfiltered – a patient, artisanal approach that lends the wine depth and texture.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Oysters and seafood are the classic partners. Equally excellent with Loire Valley goat’s cheese, scallops, steamed turbot or asparagus with herb vinaigrette.

Special Features

A Sancerre with depth and patience: three years of ageing before bottling are rare in this appellation. Matthias Planchon demonstrates that Sauvignon Blanc can do far more than crisp fruit – here emerges a complex, age-worthy terroir interpretation.