A Trio of Sancerre: Blanc, Rosé, and Rouge

Hello Friends,

Just about every day, as wine o'clock approaches, you can find me uncorking or unscrewing a new wine adventure. Being a wine enthusiast, a wine blogger, and someone who thoroughly appreciates and enjoys the liquid expression of a place, a person’s vision, and Mother Nature’s influence -- I find wine to be one of the most intriguing beverages in the world. It’s a hobby where there is always something new to taste and learn as well as a sea of friendly "wine peeps" to meet in real life or via those wonderful and time-consuming social media portals called Facebook and Twitter.

 Having a Splash of Sancerre!

Below is a trio of wines from Sancerre's 2011 vintage accompanied by my tasting notes and a picture I snapped of each bottle. I had an opportunity to sample these wines during a recent #winestudio Twitter tasting with Protocol Wine Studio. Sancerre is an appellation located in France’s Loire Valley that has grown vines since ancient times. The region produces light-to-medium bodied wines with good acidity made from Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. The bright and refreshing white wines made from Sauvignon Blanc are more prevalent than rosé and red wines produced from Pinot Noir. Be it Blanc (white), rosé, or rouge (red) wines; the one commonality you will find across the board in the wines of Sancerre is a wonderful food-friendly nature. Oftentimes I have found a restraint fruit character in the wines matched by appealing mineral tones. If this region is unfamiliar territory for you, ask your local wine shop for something under $20 and give the region’s wines a try. Remember: variety, so they say, is the spice of life; so keep an open mind and an open palate and enjoy the experience. Drink well my friends!

Pascal Jolivet 2011 Sancerre Rosé

1) Pascal Jolivet 2011 Sancerre Rosé (SRP $25): This wine is light salmon-orange in color with red cherry fruit, spice, and floral perfume aromas with a faint steely, tree fruit component. Firm acidity frames bright fruit flavors in this restrained and extremely food-friendly, versatile rosé. Note to self: Extend an invite to this wine for Thanksgiving! (Other info: 100% Pinot Noir, Saignée method, native yeast, ABV 12.5%, cork enclosure) Click here to find this wine.

Daniel Chotard 2011 Sancerre

2) Daniel Chotard 2011 Sancerre (SRP $26): This wine exhibits a restrained fruit profile leaning toward bright citrus fruit and floral aromas and flavors that’s wrapped around a firm spine of crisp, mineral-laced acidity. It shows good purity, freshness, and while small-framed, is nicely textured with good length.  It drinks nicely on its own and is also very capable of partnering up to a wide variety of foods. (Other info: ABV 13%, cork enclosure) Click here to find this wine.

Paul Prieur et Fils 2011 Les Caillotes Rouge

3) Paul Prieur et Fils 2011 Les Caillotes Sancerre Rouge (SRP $26): This wine is medium ruby in color with a restrained red fruit nose, followed by spice box, a hint of pencil lead, and soft floral notes. It’s fresh and light in the mouth with good acid-to-fruit balance and muted earth tones in the medium-length finish. This is a pleasant bottle of wine to break the ancient rule of white wine with fish, red wine with meat. Reach for a fatty fish like salmon or tuna and enjoy! (Other info: 100% Pinot Noir, ABV 12.5%, cork enclosure) Click here to find this wine.

I bet this would fit the bill!

Have a question about this post? Feel free to drop me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com or hit me up on Facebook or Twitter. Stay tuned ...more to come. Happy Sipping, my friends! Disclosure: These wines were provided for review. Thoughts are my own.

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