Notify me
2018 Sancerre Rouge “Champs d’Alligny”
Daniel Chotard
Daniel Chotard and his son, Simon, are constantly experimenting in the cellar. Simon’s quest for a more authentic expression of terroir has led him to isolate certain parcels on the basis of soil, testing different techniques in fermentation and aging in order to improve each vintage. A single-vineyard Pinot Noir from a small parcel planted by Simon’s great-uncle and grandfather is one such test case. Previously blended into the domaine’s Sancerre rouge, the 2018 vintage is the first separate bottling of this unique vineyard, a successful experiment if there ever was one.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2018 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Pinot Noir |
Appellation: | Sancerre |
Country: | France |
Region: | Loire |
Producer: | Daniel Chotard |
Winemaker: | Daniel Chotard |
Vineyard: | Vines planted in 1963 and 1965, .5 ha |
Soil: | Clay, Limestone, Kimmeridgian marl |
Aging: | Aged for 18 months in 400-liter barrels |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 15.5% |
More from this Producer or Region

2016 Chinon “Les Petites Roches” MAGNUM
France | Loire
Given light treatment in the cellar, this wine shows off Cabernet in its most delicate, charming form.

2021 Bourgueil “La Dilettante”
France | Loire
A delicate, aromatic red in the “drink now!” vein.

2020 Sancerre Rouge "Champs d’Alligny"
France | Loire
Previously blended into the domaine’s Sancerre rouge, the Champs d’Alligny is now its own bottling, a successful experiment if there ever was one.

2023 Bourgueil “Trinch!”
France | Loire
Peppery and bright, earthy and juicy all at once.

2023 Savennières “Cuvée Spéciale”
France | Loire
Powerful, cellar-worthy dry Chenin aged in chestnut, oak, and acacia.

2022 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine “Réserve”
France | Loire
When you smell it, keep in mind that no other wine, besides a Melon de Bourgogne grown in the gabbro soil of Gorges, could possibly smell like this one does.

2023 Sancerre
France | Loire
An intense exotic nose lures you in before the minerality channels the lightning energy of this pure Sauvignon Blanc.

2023 Sancerre Rouge
France | Loire
Chotard has crafted a delicious, complex, and elegant rouge that gives many village Burgundies a run for their money.

2022 Sancerre “Les Coutones”
France | Loire
A fleshy, full-bodied Sancerre with great freshness and the ability to age in bottle for a few years after release.

2021 Bourgueil “Clos Sénéchal”
France | Loire
This divine red allies the power and finesse one would expect from this great terroir.
About The Producer
Daniel Chotard
About The Region
Loire
The defining feature of the Loire Valley, not surprisingly, is the Loire River. As the longest river in France, spanning more than 600 miles, this river connects seemingly disparate wine regions. Why else would Sancerre, with its Kimmeridgian limestone terroir be connected to Muscadet, an appellation that is 250 miles away?
Secondary in relevance to the historical, climatic, environmental, and cultural importance of the river are the wines and châteaux of the Jardin de la France. The kings and nobility of France built many hundreds of châteaux in the Loire but wine preceded the arrival of the noblesse and has since out-lived them as well.
Diversity abounds in the Loire. The aforementioned Kimmeridgian limestone of Sancerre is also found in Chablis. Chinon, Bourgueil, and Saumur boast the presence of tuffeau, a type of limestone unique to the Loire that has a yellowish tinge and a chalky texture. Savennières has schist, while Muscadet has volcanic, granite, and serpentinite based soils. In addition to geologic diversity, many, grape varieties are grown there too: Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Melon de Bourgogne are most prevalent, but (to name a few) Pinot Gris, Grolleau, Pinot Noir, Pineau d’Aunis, and Folle Blanche are also planted. These myriad of viticultural influences leads to the high quality production of every type of wine: red, white, rosé, sparkling, and dessert.
Like the Rhône and Provence, some of Kermit’s first imports came from the Loire, most notably the wines of Charles Joguet and Château d’Epiré—two producers who are featured in Kermit’s book Adventures on the Wine Route and with whom we still work today.
More from Loire or France
2021 Saumur Champigny “Terres Chaudes”
Domaine des Roches Neuves France | Loire
2024 Reuilly “Les Pierres Plates”
Domaine de Reuilly France | Loire
2020 Saumur Champigny “La Marginale”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2020 Sancerre Rouge "Champs d’Alligny"
Daniel Chotard France | Loire
2020 Bourgueil “Les Perrières”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2022 Quincy “Château de Quincy”
Domaine Trotereau France | Loire
2023 Chinon “Les Petites Roches” Blanc
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2015 Chinon “Les Petites Roches” MAGNUM
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2020 Vin de France Rouge Grolleau/Cabernet Franc “Clandestine”
Grange Saint Sauveur France | Loire
2020 Saumur Blanc “L’Échelier”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
Vouvray Brut “La Dilettante”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2024 Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc “Unique”
Domaine du Salvard France | Loire
2021 Saumur Champigny “Terres Chaudes”
Domaine des Roches Neuves France | Loire
2024 Reuilly “Les Pierres Plates”
Domaine de Reuilly France | Loire
2020 Saumur Champigny “La Marginale”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2020 Sancerre Rouge "Champs d’Alligny"
Daniel Chotard France | Loire
2020 Bourgueil “Les Perrières”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2022 Quincy “Château de Quincy”
Domaine Trotereau France | Loire
2023 Chinon “Les Petites Roches” Blanc
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2015 Chinon “Les Petites Roches” MAGNUM
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2020 Vin de France Rouge Grolleau/Cabernet Franc “Clandestine”
Grange Saint Sauveur France | Loire
2020 Saumur Blanc “L’Échelier”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
Vouvray Brut “La Dilettante”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2024 Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc “Unique”
Domaine du Salvard France | Loire
Kermit once said...

Kermit once said...
I want you to realize once and for all: Even the winemaker does not know what aging is going to do to a new vintage; Robert Parker does not know; I do not know. We all make educated (hopefully) guesses about what the future will bring, but guesses they are. And one of the pleasures of a wine cellar is the opportunity it provides for you to witness the evolution of your various selections. Living wines have ups and downs just as people do, periods of glory and dog days, too. If wine did not remind me of real life, I would not care about it so much.
Inspiring Thirst, page 171