Fresh, fruity and fun

I don’t really like Sauvignon Blanc on its own but some are quite good; this is one of my favourites. Not only is it a good wine, it is also made by a charming chap. Jean-Laurent Vacheron is widely travelled had has assisted making wine at such prestigious addresses as Domaine de la Romanée-Conti; he also plays a mean game of rugby. It is good to buy wine from people who are not only skilled winemakers, but also nice enough people that you want to sit down and drink the wine with them. This was one of my recommendations last month.

Sancerre la Reine Blanche 2004, Domaine Vacheron

Pale green colour. A fresh, lively nose of cut grass and gooseberry fruit. It has a good, smokey minerality to it. Despite its sharp acidity this has a reasonable degree of fat and plenty of fruit. It is quite concentrated with fruity and mineral tastes persisting long after I’ve swallowed it; the finish is very nice. It is very lively, balanced and really quite complex for a Sauvignon Blanc. It also a really fun drink. 2004 was clearly a good vintage for l’homme Vacheron, this is one of the best wines I’ve tried from them since… oh well, last time I met Jean-Laurent. Excellent Sancerre and a bargain at this price.