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2022 Sancerre Rouge “Le Chant de l’Archet”
Daniel ChotardOnce, white wines from Sancerre were a rarity, and Pinot Noir rouge reigned supreme, an order of things that lasted for centuries. In more modern times, as the world thirsted for crisp, lively whites, Sancerre stepped up with such roaring success that it nearly became a household name for “white wine.” Pinot Noir, suddenly shoved into the back seat, was almost a victim of the region’s popularity. Thankfully, Simon Chotard has spent the last decade or so deeply focusing on his reds, releasing micro-cuvées of Pinot Noir from his oldest vines and most interesting plots. His Chant de l’Archet cuvée comes from two parcels of prime real estate (mid-slope and south-facing) on the celebrated “cirque de Reigny,” the amphitheater hill around his village. A slow, cold ferment and a long élevage in old wood help showcase the elegance, dark fruit, and spiced nose of this profound and grand Pinot.
—Chris Santini
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2022 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Pinot Noir |
Appellation: | Sancerre |
Country: | France |
Region: | Loire |
Producer: | Daniel Chotard |
Winemaker: | Daniel Chotard |
Vineyard: | 55 years average, 1 ha |
Soil: | Clay, Limestone, Kimmeridgian marl |
Aging: | Ages both in stainless steel and barriques (2%) – barrels come from the Hospices de Beaune in Burgundy after 1, 2, and 3 years of use |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 14.5% |
More from this Producer or Region
2020 Sancerre Champs d’Alligny
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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.
2021 Sancerre “Les Coutones”
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A fleshy, full-bodied Sancerre with great freshness and the ability to age in bottle for a few years after release.
2023 Sancerre
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An intense exotic nose lures you in before the minerality channels the lightning energy of this pure Sauvignon Blanc.
2020 Sancerre “Hameau de Reigny”
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Simon refers to Hameau de Reigny as a “nature” wine. The result is textured and tropical-fruited, yet not so much a departure from the region’s typicity, as rather, a riff on it.
2021 Sancerre “Les Cris”
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Simply gorgeous, the Cris is sublimely perfumed, generous on the palate, and long and saline on the elegant finish.
2021 Sancerre “Racines”
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It combines the racy acidity and taut mineral structure imparted by the Kimmeridgian limestone terroir with a subtle kiss of oak and a fine wood grain on the finale.
2022 Sancerre Blanc “Cuvée Marcel Henri”
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Welcome to depth, complexity, understatement, finesse.
2022 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.
2019 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.
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 Kimmderidgian 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 Chinon Blanc “Les Charmes”
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2021 Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil “Irène”
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2022 Sancerre Blanc “Cuvée Marcel Henri”
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2020 Chinon “Clos du Chêne Vert”
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2023 Reuilly Pinot Noir
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2018 Chinon Blanc “Clos de la Plante Martin”
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2021 Bourgueil “Cuvée Alouettes”
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2021 Chinon “Les Petites Roches”
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2020 Saumur-Champigny “Franc de Pied”
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2018 Vouvray “La Moelleuse”
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2021 Vin de France Blanc “Chenin Centenaire”
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2021 Saumur Blanc “L’Insolite”
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2021 Chinon Blanc “Les Charmes”
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2021 Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil “Irène”
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie France | Loire
2022 Sancerre Blanc “Cuvée Marcel Henri”
Daniel Chotard France | Loire
2020 Chinon “Clos du Chêne Vert”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2023 Reuilly Pinot Noir
Domaine de Reuilly France | Loire
2018 Chinon Blanc “Clos de la Plante Martin”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2021 Bourgueil “Cuvée Alouettes”
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie France | Loire
2021 Chinon “Les Petites Roches”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2020 Saumur-Champigny “Franc de Pied”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2018 Vouvray “La Moelleuse”
Champalou France | Loire
2021 Vin de France Blanc “Chenin Centenaire”
Grange Saint-Sauveur France | Loire
2021 Saumur Blanc “L’Insolite”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
If you're looking for value, look where no one else is looking.
Inspiring Thirst, page 211