Winemaker Notes
The Clos de Beaujeu, one of the most historic sites in the village of Chavignol, supplied white wine to the Cathedral of Bourges in the 14th century when Sancerre was renowned for its red wines, and Boulay’s Clos de Beaujeu today offers a richer, denser expression compared to the Chavignol village wine.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Delicious and ripe, with density to its persimmon, melon and zesty peach notes, all married to an intense layer of crushed flint and smoke. Clementine acidity and white tea accents wash through and clean up the finish, dusted in sea salt and savory smoked thyme. Mineral-rich and long. Drink now through 2029. 220 cases imported.
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Vinous
From one of the region's most well-known vineyards, the 2023 Clos de Beaujeu has weight, precision, delightful texture and a touch of chalky powder. It features herbal notes of boxwood, elderflower, pear and lemon tea. The 2023 is gently refreshing and finely drawn out with chalky sinew.
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.