Lucien Crochet ‘Le Chêne Marchand’ Sancerre Blanc, Loire, France 2023 (375ml)

Lucien Crochet is a vigneron based in Bué (Sancerre) whose terroir-driven portfolio focuses on expressing the unique soils of each parcel. The Le Chêne Marchand bottling comes from his Clos du Chêne Marchand plots—known for early ripening and exceptional minerality.

• WINEMAKER: Lucien Crochet
• FARMING: Vines are pruned by Poussard-Guyot, disbudded in spring, and worked with integrated protection and organic fertilizers. Harvest is by hand. 
• VARIETY: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
• TERROIR: The vineyards lie in the commune of Bué on upper Oxfordian limestone (locally called “caillottes”) at mid-slope (240–260 m elevation). The soils are shallow, well-drained, and planted on favorable sun exposures.
• VINIFICATION: Grapes are pressed whole cluster in pneumatic presses and settled cold for ~36 hours. Fermentation is done in stainless steel with ~5% in oak barrels, using native yeasts over 25–30 days.
• AGING: The wine ages on lees for 10 months, followed by blending and an additional 12 months of lees aging before bottling.
• TASTING NOTES: Pale gold in color. The nose offers candied orange, white flowers, and gingerbread over chalky minerality. The palate is supple, with powdery texture, a mineral backbone, and a finish marked by gentle bitterness and almond notes.
• FOOD PAIRINGS: Delicious with poultry in a citrus sauce, asparagus risotto, lemon-marinated veal, or fresh shellfish.