Loire Valley Wine

Lucien Crochet Sancerre — Loire Valley 2024

Lucien Crochet is one of Sancerre's most respected family domaines, farming vines across three distinct chalky soil types — caillottes, terres blanches, and silex — that together define the appellation's signature minerality and precision. The 2024 Sancerre is a bright, energetic expression of Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc: aromatic, focused, and beautifully balanced. Fermented and aged in stainless steel to preserve freshness, it is a textbook Sancerre that over-delivers at its price point.

The nose is pure and inviting: elderflower, lime zest, white peach, and crushed chalk. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with vibrant acidity, a silky mineral texture, and a clean, lingering finish of citrus and stone. It is the kind of wine that disappears fast at the table — equally at home as an aperitif or alongside a full meal.

Bart Hopkins, 67Wine.com — "A bright, energetic Sancerre that drinks beautifully. Excellent aromatic purity and precision with a lovely mélange of citrus and white orchard fruits that mingle with perfectly balanced mineral notes and refreshing acidity. Well rounded and long on the finish."

• Producer: Lucien Crochet, Bué, Sancerre, Loire Valley, France
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Sancerre AOC
• Soils: Caillottes, terres blanches & silex (chalky limestone)
• Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
• Vinification: Stainless steel fermentation and aging
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Elderflower, lime zest, white peach, crushed chalk, citrus, mineral finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now through 2029
• Best Paired With: Oysters, grilled fish, goat cheese, seafood pasta, green salads, vegetarian fare

A benchmark Sancerre from one of the appellation's finest family estates — precise, mineral, and endlessly drinkable.

Winemaker Description

Firmin Dezat, now in its 18th generation of family winemaking, farms 8 hectares in the prestigious Pouilly-Fumé appellation of the Loire Valley. Naturally farmed with HVE 3 certification (Haute Valeur Environnementale), this Loire Sauvignon Blanc is dominated by aromas and flavors of stone fruit wrapped in vibrant minerality. A beautifully expressive and exceptional value from one of the Loire's most enduring family estates.

Tasting Notes

Bright and aromatic with stone fruit, citrus zest, and the signature flinty, smoky minerality of Pouilly-Fumé. Crisp acidity, a lively mid-palate, and a clean, lingering finish with excellent tension and freshness.

Food Pairings

Classic with goat cheese, oysters, grilled fish, seafood pasta, and light salads. An ideal aperitif or food-friendly white for any occasion.

Product Details

Bottle Size: 750ml
Vintage: 2024
Region: Pouilly-Fumé, Loire Valley, France
Appellation: Pouilly-Fumé AOC
Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Farming: Naturally Farmed, HVE 3 Certified
Style: White Wine, Dry

Domaine Champalou | Vouvray Sec | Loire Valley | 2024

Vouvray is Chenin Blanc’s spiritual home — a small appellation on the Loire’s right bank where the grape has been grown for centuries in the region’s distinctive tuffeau limestone soils. Domaine Champalou, run by Céline and Didier Champalou, is one of the appellation’s most beloved estates: biodynamically farmed, meticulous in the cellar, and utterly consistent in producing Vouvray of purity and grace. The Sec (dry) is the entry point into their range and it is a masterclass in what Chenin Blanc can do when the terroir is right and the winemaking gets out of the way. Stony minerality from the limestone, luscious almost-honeyed fruit, and delicate floral notes combine on a palate that is simultaneously fresh and textural — the kind of wine that seems effortless but is anything but. Serve cold, drink often.

• Appellation: Vouvray AOC, Loire Valley, France
• Varietal: 100% Chenin Blanc
• Style: Sec (dry)
• Vintage: 2024
• Format: 750ml
• Soils: Tuffeau limestone
• Farming: Biodynamic
• Drink Window: Now – 2032

Tasting Notes

Stony minerality, luscious honeyed fruit, and delicate floral notes. Fresh, pure, and textural with a long, clean finish.

67 Wine Picks

"Céline Champalou’s Vouvray is always a joy to drink. The wine seems so pure, as if it bubbled up out of the limestone into a cool, limpid pool tended by nymphs and satyrs who pour it into the mouths of weary souls. That’s what I feel, anyway, when I grab a bottle from the fridge." 

Pairing Suggestions

• Seafood: Grilled white fish, shellfish, or scallops with a light cream sauce.
• Poultry: Roasted chicken, turkey, or grilled meats with herb butter.
• Global: Japanese cuisine, Thai dishes with lemongrass, or roasted vegetables.
• Aperitif: An ideal pre-dinner pour on its own.

Tasting Notes

Bright and pale golden, L'Indiscrète opens with a fresh, citrus-driven palate layered with mineral notes of flint from the caillote soils. Richly textured yet underpinned by crisp acidity, the wine delivers textbook Sancerre minerality with an elegant, pure, and refreshing finish that lingers beautifully.

About the Wine

Produced by Anthony Girard of the La Clef du Récit estate, this cuvée is crafted from 45-year-old vines grown on classic Sancerre limestone (caillottes) and flint soils. It is rare to find a non-Mevushal Sancerre from a small, high-quality producer of this caliber — because it is not flash-pasteurized, the wine retains its delicate floral aromatics and sharp mineral edge, making it a benchmark for connoisseurs seeking the most authentic Kosher Sancerre experience.

Food Pairing

A natural match for grilled fish, goat cheese, and light poultry. Equally stunning on its own as an aperitif.

Product Details

• Appellation: Sancerre, Loire Valley, France
• Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
• Vine Age: 45 years
• Vintage: 2023
• Format: 750ml
• Certification: Kosher (Non-Mevushal)
• Producer: Anthony Girard – La Clef du Récit

Producer Notes — Vintage 2024

Domaine Guiberteau is one of the Loire Valley’s most celebrated estates, and Les Moulins is their entry-level rosé — a cuvée originally created for vineyards undergoing organic certification, now showcasing purchased grapes and young Domaine vines alongside the estate’s signature precision. Produced under the Chai de la Dive négociant project.

Made from Cabernet Franc, whole-cluster pressed and fermented with ambient yeasts in stainless steel, with malolactic conversion blocked to preserve freshness. The result is a bright, precise, and food-friendly rosé with real Loire character.

Terroir

Sourced from multiple sites across Berrie (clay-sand over Turonian limestone), Puy-Notre-Dame (silty-sandy-clay over Turonian limestone), and Montreuil-Bellay (clay-sand over Jurassic limestone) — each contributing distinct texture and minerality to the blend.

Vinification

Whole-cluster pressing → 24-hour settling → 3-week ambient yeast fermentation in stainless steel → malolactic blocked → 6 months on stainless → tangential flow filtration. Low SO2 intervention throughout.

• Producer: Domaine Guiberteau / Chai de la Dive
• Appellation: Saumur, Loire Valley, France
• Varietal: Cabernet Franc
• Vine Age: 10–35 years
• Viticulture: Organic (uncertified)
• Vintage: 2024
• Format: 750ml
• Style: Dry, fresh, mineral rosé
• Pairings: Seafood, salads, charcuterie, light summer dishes

Pascal et Nicolas Reverdy Sancerre Terre de Maimbray Rosé Organic — Loire Valley 2025

Pascal et Nicolas Reverdy are among the most respected names in Sancerre, farming their vines sustainably in the appellation’s most prized terroir. The Terre de Maimbray Rosé is sourced from 30- to 60-year-old Pinot Noir vines grown in Terres Blanches — the Kimmeridgian marl and pure chalk soils that define Sancerre’s mineral identity. Grapes are hand-harvested and direct-pressed (rosé de presse), then fermented in stainless steel and aged on fine lees over winter to add subtle textural roundness before bottling. The result is a rosé of exceptional clarity and energy.

The nose is vibrant and mineral-accented: fresh strawberry, tangerine, and quince with subtle herb and floral nuances. On the palate it is concentrated yet lithe, offering sappy red berry and citrus fruit flavors that deepen steadily on the back half, with the mineral note returning strong on a long, seamless finish. Serve well-chilled alongside fresh summer tomato salads, goat cheese tarts, green vegetables, or grilled salmon — or simply on its own as the finest rosé aperitif you can pour.

🇫🇷 “Vibrant, mineral-accented strawberry, tangerine, and quince scents, along with subtle herb and floral nuances. The mineral note comes back strong on the long, seamless finish, which shows excellent clarity.”

• Producer: Pascal et Nicolas Reverdy
• Appellation: Sancerre AOP, Loire Valley, France
• Vintage: 2025
• Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
• Terroir: Terres Blanches — Kimmeridgian marl and pure chalk, vines 30–60 years old
• Vinification: Direct press, stainless steel fermentation, lees aging over winter
• Farming: Sustainable / Organic
• Size: 750ml
• Best Served: Well-chilled, 46–50°F
• Pairs With: Tomato salads, goat cheese tarts, green vegetables, grilled salmon

A benchmark Sancerre rosé — mineral, precise, and built for the table.

Domaine Olga Raffault Chinon Rosé 2025 — Chinon, Loire Valley

Domaine Olga Raffault is one of Chinon’s most storied estates, a benchmark producer in the Loire Valley whose wines have defined the appellation for generations. This Rosé is 100% Cabernet Franc — half from certified-organic estate parcels on the sandy, gravelly flats along the Vienne River, half from a neighboring grower in organic conversion. Hand-harvested, native yeast fermented, with no malolactic fermentation and no new oak — just pure, transparent winemaking that lets the fruit and terroir speak.

Half the fruit is pressed directly as whole clusters; the other half is saigné. The result is a rosé of precision and energy: wild strawberry, raspberry, and watermelon on the nose, with delicate floral notes and a touch of citrus zest. The palate is crisp and lively, with bright acidity, a light silky texture, and a clean, mineral-tinged finish. Bottled in spring with light filtration to preserve freshness.

Organic estate Cabernet Franc — Chinon Rosé at its most precise and expressive.

• Producer: Domaine Olga Raffault, Chinon, Loire Valley, France
• Vintage: 2025
• Appellation: Chinon AOC
• Varietal: 100% Cabernet Franc
• Farming: 50% certified organic estate + 50% organic conversion
• Winemaking: Native yeast, no MLF, stainless steel, light filtration
• Format: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Wild strawberry, raspberry, watermelon, floral, citrus zest, mineral finish
• Best Paired With: Grilled salmon, goat cheese, niçoise salad, charcuterie, summer vegetables

A benchmark Loire Rosé at an honest price — Raffault’s Chinon is the standard for what Cabernet Franc rosé can be.

Producer Notes — Vintage 2024

“Cabochard” means stubborn in French — and it’s exactly what Stéphane Sérol’s father called him when he declared he was breaking from regional tradition to make a bone-dry rosé. The name stuck, and so did the wine. Screaming stone fruit and florals with vibrant acidity and freshness, Cabochard stands in proud opposition to the off-dry style typical of the Côte Roannaise.

Made from Gamay Saint-Romain — a rare local variant of Gamay — farmed biodynamically and certified organic, this is a rosé with real character and a great story behind every sip.

Vinification

Direct press → cold settling → indigenous yeast fermentation → malolactic fermentation → 3 months in cement tank → light filtration. Bottled by the Domaine’s team in lightweight glass with a screw-cap closure.

• Producer: Domaine Robert Sérol
• Appellation: Côte Roannaise, Loire Valley, France
• Varietal: Gamay Saint-Romain
• Viticulture: Biodynamic, Organic (FR-Bio-01-Ecocert certified)
• Vintage: 2024
• ABV: 11.5%
• Format: 750ml
• Closure: Screw-cap
• Style: Bone-dry, vibrant, aromatic rosé
• Service: Serve at 11°C; can be cellared up to 2 years
• Pairings: Seafood, salads, goat cheese, light summer dishes

Winemaker Description

In the eastern reaches of Sancerre lies a distinctive terroir defined by silex — the French term for flint — a dense, siliceous soil that gives this wine its singular mineral character. Light yellow with a golden core, the nose reveals fine, elegant flint-smoke notes that immediately announce the wine’s origins. Beneath the minerality, a layer of yellow fruit and delicate florals adds complexity and density.

On the palate, the flint-smoke character continues, framed by a full, juicy mouthfeel that remains precise and elegant. Powerful acidity drives the long, tense finish. This is Sauvignon Blanc at its most mineral and structured — the clay-siliceous soils, rich in siliceous conglomerates, providing exceptional finesse and a marked aromatic intensity that sets the Silex cuvée apart from classic Sancerre.

About J de Villebois

J de Villebois is a leading producer of Kosher Loire Valley wines, crafting appellation-driven Sauvignon Blancs from Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, and Touraine under strict kosher supervision. The Silex cuvée represents the estate’s prestige expression — sourced exclusively from flint-rich parcels in the eastern sector of Sancerre, where the terroir imparts a smoky, mineral complexity rarely found at any price point.

Kosher Certification

Fully Kosher certified and suitable for Passover. An exceptional choice for Shabbat, Passover Seder, and any occasion requiring Kosher wine without compromise on quality.

Food Pairings

Oysters, grilled sole, sea bass, sushi, goat cheese, asparagus, and herb-roasted chicken. A natural partner for Passover Seder fish courses and light spring dishes.

Product Details

• Producer: J de Villebois
• Region: Sancerre AOC, Loire Valley, France
• Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
• Terroir: Silex (flint) soils
• Certification: Kosher, Kosher for Passover
• Vintage: 2024
• Style: Mineral, flint-driven, high-acid Loire white
• Format: 750ml

Alphonse Mellot La Moussière Sancerre Blanc Organic — Loire Valley 2025

Alphonse Mellot is one of Sancerre’s most storied and celebrated estates — and the only domaine in the entire Sancerrois to hold the prestigious hors concours (beyond competition) distinction, a recognition that places them in a category of their own. La Moussière is the estate’s flagship cuvée and its cornerstone: a 100% Sauvignon Blanc sourced from the La Moussière vineyard at the very heart of the Sancerre appellation, farmed organically and vinified to express the richness, energy, and precision that define the Alphonse Mellot style. In the elegant 375ml half-bottle format, it is the perfect introduction to one of the Loire Valley’s greatest estates.

The color is a resplendent golden robe with glints of green. The nose is floral and fruity: white flowers, citrus fruits, and the characteristic mineral tension of great Sancerre. On the palate, it is lively and refreshing — precise, energetic, and beautifully focused, with a clean, mineral-driven finish that speaks clearly of its terroir. A wine of genuine distinction in every sip.

67 Wine — “La Moussière is the benchmark Sancerre — the only estate in the Sancerrois to hold the hors concours distinction. Organic, precise, and endlessly elegant.”

• Producer: Alphonse Mellot, Sancerre, Loire Valley, France
• Distinction: Only hors concours estate in the Sancerrois
• Vintage: 2025
• Appellation: Sancerre AOC
• Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
• Farming: Certified Organic
• Format: Half Bottle (375ml)
• Tasting Notes: White flowers, citrus, golden robe, lively acidity, mineral precision, clean finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, goat cheese, grilled fish, seafood, light salads

Beyond competition, organically farmed, and perfectly sized for two — Alphonse Mellot’s La Moussière is the Sancerre that earns its hors concours status with every vintage.

Lucien Crochet · Sancerre Rosé · Pinot Noir · Loire Valley · 2025

In Bué — one of Sancerre's most celebrated villages — the Crochet family has been growing Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc on Oxfordian and Kimmeridgian limestone for generations. Gilles Crochet, who trained at the legendary Domaine Dujac in Morey-Saint-Denis before returning to the family estate in 1983, brings a Burgundian sensibility to everything he makes. His Sancerre Rosé is one of the appellation's finest: 100% Pinot Noir, hand-harvested (a rare practice in Sancerre), direct-pressed, and aged six months on fine lees in stainless steel. No shortcuts, no compromises — just the visceral salinity and mineral precision that Crochet's limestone terroir delivers vintage after vintage. At $34.99, this is Sancerre Rosé at its most serious and most rewarding.

Pale pink in the glass with a nose of stunning intensity: vineyard peach, white pepper, and a subtle spicy lift that opens with aeration into citrus zest and fresh orange. Frank on the attack, the palate is both juicy and crisp — indulgent peach fruit supported by lively citrus and a fine, freshness-driven balance. The finish is long and persistent, with a refreshing return of menthol and mineral salinity. Drink now through 2028.

“Vinous without being at all overbearing, it offers the visceral salinity of the domaine’s white wines alongside the red-fruited elegance of Pinot Noir from these distinctive soils.”
— Vinous

• Producer: Domaine Lucien Crochet
• Vintage: 2025
• Appellation: Sancerre AOC, Loire Valley, France
• Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
• Soils: Oxfordian & Kimmeridgian limestone · Bué, Sancerre
• Vinification: Hand harvested · Direct press · 6 months on fine lees in stainless steel
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Vineyard peach, white pepper, citrus zest, orange, juicy palate, mineral salinity, menthol finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now through 2028
• Food Pairings: Grilled salmon, tuna tartare, chèvre, summer vegetable tart, light charcuterie

Hand-harvested Pinot Noir, Kimmeridgian limestone, and six months on lees — Sancerre Rosé as it was meant to be made.

Pascal Balland · 'Les Hautes Pierres' Sancerre Blanc · Loire Valley · 2025

"The High Stones" — that's what Les Hautes Pierres means, and it tells you everything about this wine before you even open the bottle. Pascal Balland farms his Sancerre vineyards on the steep, stony hillsides above the village of Boué in the heart of the appellation, where Kimmeridgian limestone and silex (flint) soils define the mineral backbone that makes Sancerre one of the world's great white wine appellations. A family domaine with deep roots in the Loire, Balland brings a precise, uninterventionist hand to his winemaking — letting the terroir speak rather than the cellar. At $39.99, this is Sancerre at a price that respects both the wine and the buyer.

Harvested by hand, the grapes are pneumatically pressed and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness and aromatic purity. The wine rests on its fine lees before a light filtration and spring bottling. The 2025 shows everything you come to Sancerre for: a luminous pale gold in the glass, with a nose of white grapefruit, lemon zest, fresh-cut grass, and a signature flinty minerality. On the palate: crisp, dry, and laser-focused, with vibrant acidity, flavors of citrus and white peach, and a long, stony finish that lingers. Drink now through 2028.

• Producer: Pascal Balland
• Vintage: 2025
• Appellation: Sancerre AOC, Loire Valley, France
• Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
• Soils: Kimmeridgian limestone & silex (flint) — Les Hautes Pierres hillside
• Vinification: Hand harvested · Pneumatic press · Stainless steel fermentation · Fine lees aging · Spring bottling
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: White grapefruit, lemon zest, fresh grass, flint minerality, crisp acidity, long stony finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now through 2028
• Food Pairings: Oysters, chèvre, grilled sole, asparagus, sushi, light summer salads

Kimmeridgian limestone, silex soils, and Pascal Balland's precise hand — Sancerre as it was meant to be.

Le Coeur de la Reine · Sauvignon Blanc · Touraine AOC · 2025

"The Heart of the Queen" is a collaboration between two fourth-generation Loire Valley families — Ludivine Marteau and Vincent Leclair — whose roots in Touraine run as deep as the clay-and-flint soils they farm. The Marteaus tend a 29-hectare estate on the south bank of the Cher, while Vincent's family works 45 hectares in Pouillé in the Cher Valley. Together, they farm with the kind of meticulous care that only generational stewardship produces: short-cane pruning, selective ploughing, spring de-budding, deleafing, grass cover, and green harvest — all in service of low yields and exceptional fruit. At $16.99, this is Loire Sauvignon Blanc punching well above its price.

The 2025 is vinified with precision: 60% of the cuvée undergoes 6 hours of skin maceration for texture and aromatic lift, followed by gentle pneumatic pressing and a 7-day cool maceration at 5°C. Fermentation runs 3–4 weeks at 17°C, then the wine rests on its lees in tank to build roundness. The result is a Sauvignon Blanc of real character — an intense nose of citrus, white peach, and blackcurrant bud, leading to a palate that is supple and elegant with a spicy, mineral finish and generous length. Drink now through 2027.

• Producer: Le Coeur de la Reine (Marteau & Leclair families)
• Vintage: 2025
• Appellation: Touraine AOC, Loire Valley, France
• Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
• Soils: Clay and flint (perruches), south bank of the Cher
• Vinification: 60% skin maceration (6 hrs) · Pneumatic press · Cool maceration 7 days at 5°C · Fermented at 17°C · Lees aging in tank
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Citrus, white peach, blackcurrant bud, supple palate, spicy mineral finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now through 2027
• Food Pairings: Oysters, goat cheese, grilled fish, asparagus, light summer salads

Fourth-generation Loire families, clay-flint terroir, and lees-aged precision — Touraine Sauvignon Blanc at its most expressive.