Joseph Mellot : Cuvée Pierre Etienne 2020

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Cuvée Pierre Étienne 2020 by Joseph Mellot

Tasting

Colour
The colour displays a yellow hue with golden highlights.

Nose
The bouquet is intense and sun-drenched, revealing aromas of mirabelle plums and apricots. Woody, almost spicy touches complete this aromatic palette.

Palate
The attack is rich and fleshy, marked by sun-kissed accents. The toasty notes blend perfectly with the whole, accompanied by lovely fruitiness. A delicate mineral thread provides the balance needed for this generous palate. The finish lingers pleasantly, revealing a saline character that extends the tasting experience.

Food and wine pairing

This cuvée pairs perfectly with a plate of sea urchins, scallops enhanced with lime zest, or veal sweetbreads. It also pairs beautifully with a walnut-crusted rack of lamb. For a cheese pairing, opt for a platter of Crottins de Chavignol or Comté.

Service and storage

Serve the Cuvée Pierre Étienne 2020 at a temperature between 8 and 10°C to fully appreciate its qualities. Best enjoyed until around 2028.

A sun-drenched, mineral white Sancerre from Maison Joseph Mellot

The estate

Rooted in history since 1513 with Pierre-Étienne Mellot, Maison Joseph Mellot ranks among France's oldest winemaking dynasties. Based in Sancerre in the Centre-Loire region, it now cultivates one hundred hectares of vines spread across the region's eight appellations. Under the direction of Catherine Corbeau-Mellot and her sons Armand and Adrien since 2005, it remains the only estate to vinify all of the Centre-Loire appellations. Certified High Environmental Value, the house is distributed in more than forty countries.

The vineyard

This historic cuvée comes from a 0.8-hectare plot planted with Sauvignon Blanc on a terroir of flinty clay typical of Sancerre. The vines, averaging thirty-five years of age, are farmed using sustainable practices with mechanical soil cultivation.

The vintage

The year 2020 began with a mild, rainy winter. Spring proved warm and sunny, heralding a very hot summer punctuated by heatwaves. Autumn continued this trend with sunny, very warm weather, allowing the grapes to reach excellent ripeness.

Winemaking and aging

After direct pressing carried out in a pneumatic press with selection of the juices, the Cuvée Pierre Étienne 2020 undergoes cold settling. Vinification takes place in fine-grain oak barrels sourced from the Bertranges and Saint-Palais forests. Aging continues for eleven months in barrel with regular lees stirring, followed by a minimum of ten months in tank before bottling.

Grape variety

This white wine from the Loire is 100% Sauvignon Blanc.