Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"Aromas of limes, yellow citrus, crushed stones, herbs, chamomile and honey lead the 2012 Sancerre Edmond to a refreshingly mineral, profund and pure palate of great expression and a stimulating length with citrus flavors." This was my first note of the 2012 Sancerre Edmond, which is dedicated to Alphonse Mellot’s father Alphonse Edmond. The selection from the oldest (about 100 years old) Sauvignon Blanc grapes of the estate (on calcareous marl soils) is the purest and most precise expression of the kimmeridgian terroir because – and this is my finding of the second day – there is nothing more on the nose than ripe fruit aromas (nectarines again) based on and powdered with rock flour. This exceptional Sancerre was fermented and aged for 11 months in wooden vats and new demi-muid barrels, which initially seemed to add a further layer to this already very complex wine. However, the oak was completely absorbed by the minerality, which shines through even clearer the second day when Edmond became significantly more pure, transparent and "naked." Its length, complexity and tension, though, remains unrivaled. This is a really powerful and expressive Sancerre but does neither lack purity nor finesse, thrill nor aging potential. I would definitely buy it to give it 8-10 years although it is already accessible.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
Marked by its charming hilltop village in the easternmost territory of the Loire, Sancerre is famous for its racy, vivacious, citrus-dominant Sauvignon blanc. Its enormous popularity in 1970s French bistros led to its success as the go-to restaurant white around the globe in the 1980s.
While the region claims a continental climate, noted for short, hot summers and long, cold winters, variations in topography—rolling hills and steep slopes from about 600 to 1,300 feet in elevation—with great soil variations, contribute the variations in character in Sancerre Sauvignon blancs.
In the western part of the appellation, clay and limestone soils with Kimmeridgean marne, especially in Chavignol, produce powerful wines. Moving closer to the actual town of Sancerre, soils are gravel and limestone, producing especially delicate wines. Flint (silex) soils close to the village produce particularly perfumed and age-worthy wines.
About ten percent of the wines claiming the Sancerre appellation name are fresh and light red wines made from Pinot noir and to a lesser extent, rosés. While not typically exported in large amounts, they are well-made and attract a loyal French following.