Domaine Sautereau's Sancerre Rouge from the 2022 vintage embodies a rich family legacy spanning ten generations in the heart of Sancerre, Loire Valley, where David Sautereau, the current steward, blends ancestral traditions with global expertise gained from studies in Burgundy, Champagne, Switzerland, the USA, and Australia. His first harvest came in 1997 alongside his parents, and today, across 18-22 hectares in villages like Crézancy, Bué, and Sancerre, he nurtures one-third Pinot Noir on diverse soils—pebbles for elegance, white stone for minerality, Kimmeridgian marls for roundness, and red stone for fruit purity—to capture the appellation's essence. The 2022 vintage arrived amid a warm, ripe growing season with timely mid-August rains, yielding concentrated reds with ripe fruit, balanced acidity, and freshness ideal for aging, harvested early from healthy, disease-free grapes.
This Pinot Noir tells a story of resilience and precision: sun-kissed berries ripened under Loire's flinty gaze, hand-picked in early September, then gently vinified to preserve vibrant red fruits like cherry and raspberry intertwined with spice and subtle earth, unfolding into silky tannins and a mineral-driven finish. Imagine rolling hills of silex and caillottes soils infusing the wine with damp stone echoes, a nod to Sancerre's ancient marine past, where David's meticulous organic-leaning farming (certified in recent years) ensures every sip evokes the estate's commitment to terroir sublimation. Bright ruby in hue, it offers juicy black fruits lifted by violet and laurel, a harmonious bridge between Sancerre's famed whites and this rarer, elegant red expression.
Why You'll Love It
This wine captivates with its bright red berry aromas—cherry, raspberry, blackcurrant—mingled with spice, delivering a fruity palate of excellent structure, silky tannins, and lingering freshness that sets Sancerre Rouge apart from bolder Pinots. Its mineral backbone from diverse terroirs adds complexity and elegance, making it versatile for everyday indulgence or cellaring, with 2022's ripe concentration promising evolution over 5+ years. Wine lovers appreciate its approachable yet refined profile, often scoring well and earning awards like International Wine Challenge Bronze.
How to Serve It
Serve at 55-60°F (13-16°C) with a slight chill to highlight its delicate red fruits and spice without muting acidity—chill 30 minutes in the fridge or use a cellar. Decant for 30-60 minutes if from a recent bottle to soften tannins, pairing ideally with grilled chicken, pork tenderloin in mustard sauce, charcuterie, or soft goat cheeses to echo Sancerre's heritage. Enjoy in a Burgundy stem to concentrate aromas, sipping through 2028+ for peak vibrancy.
