Alphonse Mellot : Les Romains 2025

Characteristics and tasting notes of the "Les Romains" 2025 cuvée by Alphonse Mellot

Tasting

Appearance
The robe reveals a pale yellow to lemon-yellow hue, illuminated by bright green and emerald reflections.

Nose
Remarkably pure, the aromatic bouquet opens with notes of white flowers, citrus and white fruits such as quince and redcurrant. It stands out for its intense minerality evoking chalk, gunflint and iodine, subtly enriched by touches of walnut oil derived from its ageing.

Palate
Ample and generous, the palate delivers a dense material supported by a vibrant acidic framework. The texture, polished by the work on the lees, envelops the palate with great aromatic precision before extending into a long, saline and deeply mineral finish.

Food and wine pairings

Sancerre "Les Romains" pairs beautifully with seafood such as oysters, scallops or a white-fish ceviche. It also brilliantly accompanies poultry in sauce, andouillette with mustard, as well as local goat cheeses such as the traditional Crottin de Chavignol.

Serving and cellaring

With its beautiful structure, the Les Romains 2025 cuvée is a wine built for ageing that can rest in the cellar and evolve favourably until around 2035.

The mineral expression of a great Sancerre by Alphonse Mellot

The estate

While the winegrowing family's history dates back to 1513, the modern Alphonse Mellot estate truly came into being in 1969 following a family split. Located at the heart of the Loire region, this estate of around fifty hectares is now run by Alphonse Mellot junior and his sister Emmanuelle. A true flagship of artisanal viticulture, the estate is fully certified organic and biodynamic. It stands out for its determination to convey with extreme precision the richness of the Sancerre terroirs.

The vineyard

This wine comes from a small plot of 1.20 hectares located on the Sancerre fault line. Planted in 1951, these old vines thrive on a complex terroir composed of flinty clays on the surface and marly limestone at depth. The vineyard is managed according to biodynamic principles, with a very high planting density fostering strong competition between the vines and optimal concentration in the grapes.

Winemaking and ageing

To craft Les Romains 2025, the grapes are harvested by hand in small crates, followed by meticulous sorting. The whole berries undergo a gentle pressing. Fermentation takes place entirely in wood, with a significant proportion of new barrels. The wine then benefits from an extended ageing on fine lees, punctuated by regular bâtonnage over several months, before bottling carried out in accordance with the lunar calendar.

Grape variety

100% Sauvignon Blanc.