Winemaker Notes
Aromas of wet stones and white flowers set the stage. Zingy lemon and citrus notes lead to unexpected depth and richness on the palate.
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
From 35-year-old vines planted on the hills of the commune of Sancerre, Saint-Satur and Sury-en-Vaux, the 2020 "Straight Outta" Sancerre Tournebride (identical with the Sancerre Le Tournebride) assembles all three Sancerre terroirs: terres blanches (Kimmeridgian marl), caillottes (weathered limestone) and flint (silex). Fermented in wooden casks and stainless steel and aged for about 10 months on the lees, this opens with a clear, rich and initially a bit lactic bouquet of ripe, white fruits (even honeydew melon aromas are displayed) and a hint of mocha. With more aeration, the nose becomes fresher and more citric as well as complex and mineral. On the palate, this is a full-bodied, elegant and refined but most of all generous and textural Sancerre with juice and power but also mineral grip and tension. I find the Tournebride a bit less pure and dramatic compared to the Mélodie, but it will probably satisfy more palates.
Rating: 92+
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.