Winemaker Notes
Located along the banks of the Loire river, to the east of Bourges, the Sancerre AOP stretches across 3,000 hectares. Pebbly soils, known locally as Caillottes, dominate the village of Bué, wherein the vineyards for this wine lies. This distinct terroir provides the backbone of mineral character of this bottling. The expression of pure fruit flavors of Sauvignon Blanc with a mineral edge are accentuated through modern winemaking techniques. Pneumatic pressing, cool temperature control and fermentation and élévage in stainless steel vats ensure vibrance while maintaining depth.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2021 La Camensarde Sancerre represents the AOC well from start to finish. TASTING NOTES: This wine shines with aromas and flavors of dried herbs, chalky notes, and a hint of earth. Enjoy it with pan-fried sand dabs. (Tasted: July 18, 2022, San Francisco, CA)
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.