Sancerre La Moussiere 75cl

Producer: Alphonse Mellot

Grape variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Winemaker: Alphonse Mellot

Agent: Charles Sydney

Vinification: Alphonse's La Moussière is a truly exceptional Sancerre - a biodynamically grown dry white from a 500 year old family estate. Made with tiny yields of hand-picked sauvignon grapes grown on kimmeridgean marne, it is part-fermented in new oak barrels, giving great concentration and deep blackcurrant-and-lime freshness.

History: The family domaine can trace its history back through 19 generations to 1513.... 500 years. Today the estate is one of the most dynamic producers of the entire Loire Valley, with 52 hectares of vines in Sancerre. The family's continual search for quality has lead them to move to organic and biodynamic wine growing. In addition to immense care in the vineyards, they have pioneered the coherent use of barrel-fermenting for the sauvignon, producing wines of outstanding complexity and length.

Regional information: Set on the rolling slopes beside the Loire, Sancerre has a unique combination of terroir and microclimate that perfectly suit the sauvignon grape. When properly run, the vineyards produce beautifully intense, mineral sauvignons, often of great ripeness that takes the character of the wine way beyond that 'green grass' style of standard sauvignons, giving layers of complexity and concentration.