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2022 Sancerre “Les Cris”
Daniel Chotard
Chotard’s Les Cris is named for the small limestone rocks that stud the vineyard, which sits on a subsoil of rich Kimmeridgian marl—great dirt for Sauvignon Blanc! Simon Chotard always tries to include some botrytized grapes in Les Cris—grapes touched by the same “noble rot” that produces Sauternes—which contribute a subtle honeyed character that, when combined with the grassy citrus notes and a delicious minerality of classic Sancerre, creates an irresistible tart-sweet tension.
—Dustin Soiseth
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2022 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Sauvignon Blanc |
Appellation: | Sancerre |
Country: | France |
Region: | Loire |
Producer: | Daniel Chotard |
Winemaker: | Simon Chotard |
Vineyard: | 30 years average, .9 ha |
Soil: | Clay, Limestone, Kimmeridgian marl |
Aging: | After 8 months, wine is transferred to tank for 3 to 5 months and then 3 to 5 months in bottle. Total aging is 14 to 18 months.. |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 14.5% |
More from this Producer or Region

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An intense exotic nose lures you in before the minerality channels the lightning energy of this pure Sauvignon Blanc.

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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.
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2022 Sancerre “Les Coutones”
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2023 Sancerre
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2018 Saumur Blanc “L’Échelier”
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2023 Chinon “Les Petites Roches” Blanc
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2020 Saumur Champigny “Outre Terre”
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2022 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie
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2023 Bourgueil “Trinch!”
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2022 Quincy “Château de Quincy”
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2022 Chinon “Beaux Monts”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2023 Quincy
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2023 Vouvray “Pierres Rousses”
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2022 Jasnières “Cuvée Sainte Narcisse”
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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