Lucien Crochet : Les Calcaires 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for Lucien Crochet's Sancerre "Les Calcaires" 2023

Tasting

Appearance
This white wine reveals a magnificent golden-yellow hue, enhanced by brilliant golden highlights.

Nose
Particularly expressive from the very first swirl, the bouquet unveils delicate floral notes evoking hyacinth and honeyed blossoms, harmoniously complemented by fruity aromas of mirabelle plum.

Palate
The attack is remarkably supple, introducing a full, round and generous texture. Freshness is preserved by noble bitter notes, while indulgent flavours of custard cream and orange liqueur unfold. The finish lingers on a warm and deeply mineral backbone.

Food and wine pairings

This cuvée pairs wonderfully with refined dishes such as salmon with beurre blanc, poularde in sauce or a truffle risotto. More broadly, it will beautifully accompany delicately cooked fish, poultry in cream sauce as well as matured goat's cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

To fully appreciate the complexity of the Sancerre "Les Calcaires" 2023, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature of 10°C. This wine is built for ageing and can be kept in the cellar to be enjoyed until around 2031.

The pure, mineral expression of a great Sancerre white wine

The estate

Located in the heart of the village of Bué, in the Loire region of France, Domaine Lucien Crochet is a true benchmark. Its history is rooted in the winegrowers André Crochet and Lucien Picard, though the estate as it is known today was unified in the mid-20th century under the impetus of Lucien Crochet. Today, this 35-hectare vineyard is run by Laurence and Clément Crochet. True to a philosophy of rigour and respect for the terroir, the estate produces wines of great precision, historically favoured by gastronomy.

The vineyard

The vines used for this cuvée thrive on the hillsides of the Sancerre appellation, at altitudes ranging from 240 to 280 metres. The terroir consists exclusively of Oxfordian clay-limestone soils typical of the region, combining caillottes and griottes. The estate favours sustainable viticulture, with organic amendments used since 1989, Guyot Poussard pruning, high planting densities and entirely manual harvesting to preserve the quality of the grapes.

The vintage

The year 2023 was marked by sunny conditions that gave the grapes excellent ripeness. This generous vintage yielded satisfying quantities while retaining a gentler acidity. The chalky nature of the soils played a fundamental role in maintaining the tension and balance essential to the freshness of the juice.

Winemaking and ageing

For the Sancerre "Les Calcaires" 2023, the grapes undergo direct, gentle pressing, followed by 36 hours of cold settling at 6°C. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve aromatic purity. The wine is then aged for seven months on total lees before being racked, after which this Sancerre white wine rests for a further ten months on fine lees before bottling in early 2025.

Grape variety

100% Sauvignon Blanc.