Fine Sancerre can surprise the uninitiated with its intensity of aroma and flavor. Grown in the Loire Valley of France, Sancerre is considered by many to be the world’s finest wine from the Sauvignon Blanc grape. The Kimmeridgian soils in the steeply-sloping vineyards of the village of Chavignol imbue the Sauvignon Blanc grapes with a pure, but assertive and intense style.
The 2008 Sancerre from Serge Laporte is a beautiful example of Chavignol Sancerre. It has the distinctive Sauvignon Blanc bouquet of clean, herb-tinged fruit and a touch of flinty, smoky complexity that sets Sancerre apart from any other Sauvignon Blanc wine. The flavors are clean, crisp and focused with fresh melon, fig and citrus fruit notes backed by the crisp edge of acidity that lends a real note of distinction.
Sancerre is a classic companion for fresh seafood and the ’08 Laporte Sancerre veritably begs for some fresh fish or shellfish to accompany it. This wine is also a fine match for the assertive goat’s milk cheeses of the Loire. Grilled chèvre and Sancerre is a stellar combination--one that every lover of fine food and wine should experience. Nowhere in the world does the Sauvignon Blanc yield a more expressive, aromatic and intense wine than here. Enjoy the ’08 LaPorte Sancerre over the next two years.