2015 Sancerre Rouge- Welcome to the Old World
Relatively new in the New York City area market, this rare 2015 Sancerre Rouge by Domaine Jean- Pierre Vacher and son Jérôme is textbook Old World style wine. Most of the vineyards in this Loire Valley commune are planted with Sauvignon Blanc- making the world-famous noble wine wine of this area. On occasion, a few of the properties will plant Pinot Noir, making both rosé and red wines. This is similar to the village of Chassagne-Montrachet in the Beaune area of Burgundy. The majority of the vineyards are planted with the world-renowned Chardonnay grape, which makes the most intense expression of this varietal as White Burgundy. Only a tiny amount of Pinot Noir is grown among these white noble grapes. So as with most Old World sites, unique terroir comes into play. Since the Pinot Noir in the Sancerre vineyards is grown on limestone and chalk soils, due west and slightly north of the majority of Burgundy, the expression of this wine is different than most Red Burgundies. These Sancerre Rouge wines are generally lighter with less-obvious fruit notes and more mineral components than most of their Burgundian counterparts. Here are my tasting notes:
Color: Very light, vibrant red, with a pale rim. You can actually see through the wine.
Nose: Muted fruit notes, with wet stone/mineral notes. Forest floor component, with slight eucalyptus scents. Rustic- Old World.
Palate: Tart cherries with mineral notes. Subtle herbaceous quality, slight pine and clove flavors. Fruit is ripe, but subtle. A note of tar on the compact finish.
Again, a typical Old World style Loire Valley Pinot Noir. No "fruit bomb" by any means. Balanced and clean, a food-friendly wine, for lighter meats, cheeses, and creamy sauces.
