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Sancerre 3-Pack
Domaine Daniel Chotard

When you open a bottle of Sancerre, you know what to expect: a cornucopia of fragrant citrus and gooseberry, delicate floral nuances, a flinty mineral note, and a bracing finish that leaves you salivating for more. Nowadays, these wines are by and large crafted in the same manner, with fermentation and aging taking place in stainless steel tanks. But this was not always the norm in Sancerre. According to Kermit, when he began visiting the picturesque Loire village in the 1970s, “Stainless was already pretty rampant. But there was a lot of wood, too, of all sizes. Then the wood was phased out in almost all the cellars…”
The zippy, clean, ultra-precise Sancerres we are accustomed to are in fact a relatively recent phenomenon, corresponding to the arrival of temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks in the cellars. But what did Sancerres taste like before?
At Domaine Chotard, the ambitious Simon Chotard has taken over proceedings after his father Daniel’s retirement. In addition to an entry-level Sancerre that captures the totality of Sauvignon Blanc’s thirst-quenching, mouth-watering properties, Simon is producing smaller batches that recall the olden days of this great appellation:
Les Cris is a single-vineyard Sauvignon Blanc that is fermented and aged in acacia barrels. Acacia does not impart the woody flavors that oak is known for, so fruit shines through with brilliant purity while the wine acquires more breadth relative to one aged in tank. With a deep aroma of key lime, zingy acidity, and an almost salty, chalky finish, this multi-dimensional beauty takes the Sancerre we know to a whole new level.
Les Racines is an old-vine cuvée vinified and raised in 300-500 liter oak barrels. The most Burgundian of Simon’s wines, 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. Its inherent power, tension, and richness will allow it to age superbly, reaching its peak in five to eight more years.
The Sancerre rouge is another blast from the past, as the region was long renowned for its red wines until plantings of Sauvignon Blanc overtook Pinot Noir after phylloxera. A bistro wine par excellence, this Pinot Noir emanates a lovely aroma of bright fruit and peppery spice. Its well-defined structure and gentle tannins frame the fresh and elegant flavors.
While Simon may be relatively new on the scene, his small-production Sancerres show a real sensibility to the region’s traditional wines. Tasting this compelling trio of 2016s will take you on a journey several decades back to the old days of Sancerre, when times and wines were much different than today.
—Anthony Lynch
This item is not eligible for discounts |
Wine Type: | sampler |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Appellation: | Sancerre |
Country: | France |
Normally $112.00 SPECIAL SAMPLER PRICE $95.00 (a 15% discount) |
2016 Sancerre “Les Cris” $39.00
2016 Sancerre “Racines” $45.00
2016 Sancerre Rouge $28.00
More from this Producer or Region

2023 Sancerre Rouge
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2024 Sancerre Rosé
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Sancerre Rosé is made from Pinot Noir grown in Kimmeridgian limestone soil, and the Neveu family’s interpretation is fine, floral, crisp, and bone-dry.

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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.

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

2016 Jasnières “Chant de Vigne”
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A single-vineyard bottling whose age lends a soft, drawn butter richness to its bright, tart citrus palate.
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.
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Kermit once said...

Kermit once said...
A good doctor prescribed the wine of Nuits-Saint-Georges to the Sun King, Louis XIV, when he suffered an unknown maladie. When the king’s health was restored the tasty remedy enjoyed a vogue at court. Lord, send me a doctor like that!
Inspiring Thirst, page 117