2019 Henri Bourgeois Sancerre d'Antan

A top-tier Sancerre showcasing a perfect balance of citrus fruits and flinty minerality.

Producer

Henri Bourgeois

Region

Sancerre, Loire Valley

Country

France

Varietal

Sauvignon Blanc

Varietal Composition

100% Sauvignon Blanc

Specifications

2019

Vintage

2030

Drink By

ABV

Vinification

Vinified via ancestral methods. Grapes are gently pressed, fermented in old oak barrels, where they mature on the lees for 12 months with 2 rackings aligned with lunar cycles, bottled without fining and aged for another 2 years

Occasional wine note

We have yet to run into a Sancerre we didn't like. We love the minerality that is always there. Not all are created equal and this one nearer the top end of the spectrum. Great balance of citrusy fruits balanced by that tell-tale flinty minerality.

What experts say about this wine

100

Vinous

In Sancerre, flint soils are in the minority and typically give wines that are not as tender as those on chalk-based vineyards. This provides an upright structure, meaning they are usually last in a lineup at a winery. And yet, while the 2019 Sancerre Cuvée d'Antan is very direct, with its firm line on the finish, it's still full-bodied, silky-smooth and amazingly rich. It's fermented entirely in older oak barrels and spends a year on lees, which certainly has something to do with its delectable texture. There's the merest hint of smokiness on the finish too.

100

James Suckling

Creamy, mineral and pretty varietal at the same time, mixing brioche with gooseberries, lime and flint. Flavorful on the palate with a medium to full body, all very linear. Fresh and a tad saline followed by a lengthy, pure finish.

pairing recommendation