Lucien Crochet : Sancerre 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes of Lucien Crochet's Sancerre 2023

Tasting notes

Colour
A beautiful pale yellow hue, this white wine is enhanced by luminous golden highlights.

Nose
Complex and floral, the bouquet opens with delicate aromas of hyacinth and honey. It then reveals a lovely fruity dimension carried by mirabelle plum, ripe lemon and orange, before giving way to a chalky, saline minerality, punctuated by subtle aniseed and finely oaked notes.

Palate
A supple attack precedes a full-bodied, textured and dense palate. Flavours of yellow fruits, citrus, white peach and flowers intertwine harmoniously. The mid-palate is marked by a saline, chalky minerality offering a lovely tension. Supported by an agreeable freshness, the finish is persistent, warm and balanced, revealing indulgent notes of custard and orange liqueur.

Food and wine pairing

This white wine pairs beautifully with a local goat cheese such as Crottin de Chavignol. It is also ideally suited to raw seafood (oysters, clams), delicate fish cooked en papillote, veal blanquette or dishes with Mediterranean and Asian influences enhanced with fresh herbs.

Service and storage

For optimal tasting, this wine should be served at a temperature between 8 and 10°C. It can be enjoyed now, but also has significant ageing potential, allowing it to evolve in the cellar until at least 2031.

The quality standards and terroir dedication of a Loire reference

The estate

Born in the 1950s-1960s from the union of the Crochet and Picard winegrowing families, the Lucien Crochet estate is a key reference in the Loire Valley. Located in the heart of the village of Bué, this 35-hectare estate has built a solid reputation thanks to its quality standards and its respect for terroir. Certified organic, the estate favours a sustainable approach. Following the passing of Gilles Crochet in 2024, his wife Laurence Crochet has taken over the helm of the estate, passionately continuing the family philosophy and the identity of these wines.

The vineyard

The estate spans several communes within the Sancerre appellation, with a notable presence on the famous "Chêne Marchand" terroir in Bué. The vines, planted at a high density of 6,600 to 8,800 vines per hectare, thrive at altitudes ranging from 240 to 280 metres. They benefit from ideal east, south and west exposures. The soils, of great geological complexity, are divided into three types: griottes (limestone pebbles), caillottes (flat stones) and terres blanches (clay-limestone). The vineyard is farmed according to organic principles, with controlled cover cropping, manual harvesting and Guyot Poussard pruning.

The vintage

The year 2023 began with a mild winter followed by an early spring, resulting in bud break about two weeks ahead of schedule. May, warm and dry, offered ideal conditions for a uniform flowering. After beneficial rainfall in June, July and August were marked by intense heat and strong sunshine. These sunny conditions allowed for optimal physiological ripeness, leading to an early harvest that began on 31 August.

Winemaking and ageing

The making of this wine relies on entirely manual harvesting, allowing for rigorous selective sorting of the grapes. The estate favours vinification by individual cuvées in order to explore and respect the unique expression of each plot, while relying on certified organic practices to preserve the authenticity of the fruit and the identity of the terroir.

Grape variety

Sauvignon Blanc (100%).