François Crochet, an accomplished winemaker who honed his skills with Bruno Clair in Burgundy before returning to his family vineyards in the Loire to craft some of Sancerre's finest Sauvignon Blanc. Despite being less widely recognized than producers like Vatan, Cotat, and Vacheron, he is right up there with the best of them and is seriously making some of the best wines in Sancerre. While he is known for his early harvest approach, François's wines avoid any greenness, instead offering a balanced harmony of fruit, acidity, and pungent minerality. His vines in Le Chêne Marchand (one of Sancerre's premier sites and the source of some of the best wines ever made here) are 40 years old and rooted in organically farmed, high-elevation calcareous clay with limestone pebbles, adding richness and a vibrant mineral character. This is a textbook Sancerre with an unmistakable sense of place. Aged mainly in neutral oak with a hint of new oak, reveals lovely aromas of orchard blossoms, yellow fruits, earth, dried herbs, and pronounced minerality. On the palate, it boasts a fascinating texture, combining richness and acidity, which culminates in a power-driven, dry finish. The dynamic between intensity and harmony here is beguiling, and while it's not a cheap ride, it shows some of the best work happening in Sancerre right now and is one of the top wines we have tasted from the 2022 vintage! Please don't sleep on this one, it's a must-try!
Decanter 94 points! " The nose is bright and citrusy, with honey and elderflower notes. On the palate, the fruit is pristine and refreshing, with pronounced minerality. Powerful and harmonious – one of those wines that has natural balance, with everything in place. Superbly refreshing on the finish. From 1.5ha of the 27ha lieu-dit of Chêne Marchand, the vines for this cuvée grow among caillottes – small, flat limestone pebbles that cover the surface of the vineyard. (Drink between 2025-2030)"
Vinous (Rebecca Gibb MW ) 93 points! " The 2022 Le Chêne Marchand is a blend of five parcels that make up 1.5ha out of this lieu dit's 27ha size. The wine exudes a rare clarity and precision. It is medium-bodied at most and has a supple tenderness on the mid-palate from this fleshy, warm season. It's a style that exudes a sense of effortlessness while retaining its shape. The palate shows a little oak, but this will be digested over time. (Drink between 2025-2033)"
2022 François Crochet Sancerre Le Chêne Marchand
2022 François Crochet Sancerre Le Chêne Marchand
François Crochet, an accomplished winemaker who honed his skills with Bruno Clair in Burgundy before returning to his family vineyards in the Loire to craft some of Sancerre's finest Sauvignon Blanc. Despite being less widely recognized than producers like Vatan, Cotat, and Vacheron, he is right up there with the best of them and is seriously making some of the best wines in Sancerre. While he is known for his early harvest approach, François's wines avoid any greenness, instead offering a balanced harmony of fruit, acidity, and pungent minerality. His vines in Le Chêne Marchand (one of Sancerre's premier sites and the source of some of the best wines ever made here) are 40 years old and rooted in organically farmed, high-elevation calcareous clay with limestone pebbles, adding richness and a vibrant mineral character. This is a textbook Sancerre with an unmistakable sense of place. Aged mainly in neutral oak with a hint of new oak, reveals lovely aromas of orchard blossoms, yellow fruits, earth, dried herbs, and pronounced minerality. On the palate, it boasts a fascinating texture, combining richness and acidity, which culminates in a power-driven, dry finish. The dynamic between intensity and harmony here is beguiling, and while it's not a cheap ride, it shows some of the best work happening in Sancerre right now and is one of the top wines we have tasted from the 2022 vintage! Please don't sleep on this one, it's a must-try!
Decanter 94 points! " The nose is bright and citrusy, with honey and elderflower notes. On the palate, the fruit is pristine and refreshing, with pronounced minerality. Powerful and harmonious – one of those wines that has natural balance, with everything in place. Superbly refreshing on the finish. From 1.5ha of the 27ha lieu-dit of Chêne Marchand, the vines for this cuvée grow among caillottes – small, flat limestone pebbles that cover the surface of the vineyard. (Drink between 2025-2030)"
Vinous (Rebecca Gibb MW ) 93 points! " The 2022 Le Chêne Marchand is a blend of five parcels that make up 1.5ha out of this lieu dit's 27ha size. The wine exudes a rare clarity and precision. It is medium-bodied at most and has a supple tenderness on the mid-palate from this fleshy, warm season. It's a style that exudes a sense of effortlessness while retaining its shape. The palate shows a little oak, but this will be digested over time. (Drink between 2025-2033)"
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