Lucien Crochet : La Croix du Roy 2020

Characteristics and tasting tips for La Croix du Roy 2020 from Domaine Lucien Crochet

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a deep red color with pronounced violet reflections.

Nose

The nose reveals a beautiful aromatic complexity with notes of ripe red fruits and dark fruits, notably black cherry and blackcurrant. Elegant floral aromas of violet emerge, accompanied by subtle hints of vanilla from oak aging. A touch of graphite adds a distinctive mineral dimension.

Palate

On the palate, this wine seduces with its velvety and airy texture, contrasting with its full and generous structure. The tannins coat the palate with finesse while red fruit flavors linger. Praline aromas unfold, complemented by notes of violet and black pepper on the finish. The whole offers a lovely warmth while maintaining a precise balance.

Food and wine pairings

This red Sancerre pairs ideally with slow-cooked meats such as braised beef cheek or confit venison ribs. It also goes perfectly with a roast venison with blackcurrant sauce, a roasted Bresse capon, a bœuf bourguignon, or a pork roast with redcurrants.

Serving and storage

La Croix du Roy 2020 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 12 and 14°C. This wine can be appreciated now but will continue to evolve favorably until around 2028.

An elegant and mineral Pinot Noir from Sancerre

The estate

Domaine Lucien Crochet traces its origins to the union of two Sancerre winemaking families. Lucien Picard, a pioneer in estate bottling during the 1950s, and André Crochet joined their vineyards through the marriage of their children. Gilles Crochet, trained in Dijon and at the prestigious Domaine Dujac in Burgundy, took over the estate in 1983 and led it toward excellence for more than three decades. Today, the estate is managed by his wife Laurence and their son Clément, who carry on the commitment to organic viticulture practiced since 1989. The estate spans 35 hectares spread across Bué, Sancerre, Crézancy, and Vinon in the Loire, with 26 hectares of Sauvignon Blanc and 9 hectares of Pinot Noir.

The vineyard

La Croix du Roy comes from a selection of plots planted with Pinot Noir averaging forty years of age. The vines are rooted in clay-limestone soils composed of Oxfordian limestone, locally known as "caillottes," and Kimmeridgian marl rich in marine fossils. These Sancerre terroirs benefit from varied exposures (east, south, and west) and altitudes ranging from 240 to 280 meters. Planting density varies from 6,800 to 8,500 vines per hectare. The vineyard is managed under certified organic agriculture with grass cover or plowing between the rows depending on the plots, and Guyot-Poussard pruning with systematic disbudding.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage began with a wet winter followed by early budbreak. Disbudding was carried out in mid-April and flowering took place between May 20 and 28 under favorable conditions. The summer proved exceptionally hot and dry, with a pronounced heatwave in August causing some sunburn on the clusters. These conditions nevertheless produced concentrated and complex grapes. Harvest took place in late August under high temperatures.

Winemaking and aging

The La Croix du Roy 2020 harvest was carried out by hand, with grapes transported in small forty-kilogram crates. After sorting on a table, the grapes were 70% destemmed, retaining 30% whole bunches. Maceration and fermentation lasted approximately twenty-five days at controlled temperature, with moderate pumping over and punching down. Aging was carried out exclusively in oak, combining 228-liter Burgundy barrels and 600-liter demi-muids. Blending was completed in November 2021, followed by an additional twenty months of aging in large vessels before bottling in July 2023.

Grape variety

This red Sancerre is a 100% Pinot Noir.