2020 Christian Lauverjat Sancerre Moulin des Vrilleres

Sancerre is a small wine district in central France, famous for its crisp, aromatic white wines made from Sauvignon Blanc. It is also known for its high-quality goat cheeses, which are an excellent match for the local wine. The vineyards here surround the eponymous town, which sits atop a bean-shaped hill overlooking the river Loire.The classic Sancerre wine is white, bracingly acidic, and has pungent aromas of gooseberries, grass, nettles, and a hint of stony minerality.

The Lauverjat family has been growing grapes in Sancerre for generations in the tiny village of Sury-en-Vaux. Husband-and-wife team Christian and Karine have 12-hectares of vines in Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume. They have made improvements over the years, including a transition to sustainable viticulture. They favor working the soil and use a seaweed to combat disease, reducing chemical intervention. They grow grass in the rows to prevent erosion. In the cellar the whites are made in thermo-regulated tanks and the reds are made in large wooden conical tanks. Several years ago, they invested in a new clay filtration system that allows them to very gently filter the wines without stripping them of their character. The wines from Lauverjat undoubtedly represent some of the best values to be had from the appellation.