Sancerre Rouge, Cirotte Domaine La Croix Saint-Laurent

Sancerre rouge is not rare but not often found unless you actively seek it out, this one caught our taste buds. Cherry drop and rose nose.  Delicate but textured.  Bitter cherry start opens to strawberry, tobacco and hints of banana, with a long, peppery savoury-but-juicy finish.

The Vineyard Alphonse Mellot is a very ancient family property. The first tracks of the family Mellot in Sancerre go back to 1513. The family tradition is that the elder son of every generation carries the first name of his founder: Alphonse. Nowadays, the19th generation is in charge of the vineyard.

The wines are from the high vineyards of Sancerre including the famous “Domaine La Moussière”. The terroirs are situated on diverse soils, like the Kimméridgiens, the cénomaniens, oxfordiens, a calcareous soil.

The “terroir” is essential. The soil is labored in a way that both vines, Sauvignon and Pinot noir, can bloom in the Source rock getting their nutrients by simple dissolution of minerals. The vineyard is worked all year long: size, care, natural treatments, disbudding, and green harvests to limit the production in order to obtain the best possible quality. Grapes are hand-harvested and then selected.

Alphonse Mellot searches to obtain the purity and the fruit in his wines. Wines are aged in barrels in order to extract the wood to protect the fruit and the nature of the grape. The wines, sublime and majestic, are ready to be tested from 4 to 5years according to the grape harvest.