Measuring just one hectare but sharing the same aspect, pitch, and soil composition with Les Monts Damnés, Vacheron’s “Le Paradis” vineyard may be lesser-known but is no less a paradise for profoundly mineral, age-worthy Sauvignon Blanc. SommSelect’s love for Vacheron is widely known by now—we’ve offered practically everything they make—but it’s still an extra-special occasion when we can get enough Le Paradis to offer our subscribers. “Le Paradis” is comprised of pure limestone, with topsoil so thin that vine roots burrow into fissures in the chalky ‘mother rock’ below. Stated simply, it is one of the most profoundly mineral wines you’ll ever taste. Le Paradis is a shimmering gem of a Sancerre, focused and tensile, with a straw-yellow core that moves to green and silver at the rim. The aromatics are as complex and concentrated as Sauvignon Blanc gets, with scents of citrus fruits, green melon, peach pit, gooseberry, honeysuckle and green mango peel checked by savory notes of sea salt, wet herbs and loads of chalky minerality. The palate delivers incredible power, electrifying depth and texture, and a mineral drive that is a true testament to this treasured site’s exceptional terroir. Although this wine is stunning in its current state, it will continue to age gracefully for a good 10 years (or more)