Alphonse Mellot - Sancerre La Demoiselle blanc 2021

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

On flinty terroirs, the highest in Sancerre (200 m), with vines dating back to 1951, this sleek, straightforward, luminous white cuts like the blade of Excalibur.

About the domain :

Skillful winemaker Alphonse Mellot delivers a fascinating reading of Sancerre, with parcel-based cuvées that detail each terroir. The age of the vines, averaging 75 years, enables him to offer an impeccable range, the first step of which - the cuvée domaine - is already at the highest level. 18 hectares of IGP La Côte de la Charité also bear witness to his mastery of Chardonnay. We salute the work and inspiration of this tireless enthusiast, crowning more than 30 years of research and intransigence.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the domain :

Alphonse Mellot junior, the 19th generation of Sancerre's flagship domaine, owns 53 hectares of biodynamically farmed vines and offers a range of remarkably clear, elegant and refined single-vineyard Sancerre wines. Several of these wines - Edmond, Les Romains and Génération Dix-Neuf - are remarkable for their concentration, precision and expression. This year, I've broadened my notes a little, as I really felt differences in complexity between the wines, rather than just differences in style. Pinot noir enthusiasts should try Les Herses 2014.

Vinous A. Galloni

About the wine:

La Demoiselle is part of the narrow band of Sancerre vineyards planted on clay-silica soils. The vines tumble down towards the Loire to the east of the village, separated from the rest of the appellation's limestone vineyards to the west of the fault line that runs through the region. The 2021 is a lively, pure style, with flint giving meaning to the whole, while the mid-palate is imbued with a perfume akin to elderflower, pineapple and pear. Pungent and balanced, it is very attractive in its youth for its primary aromas, but it can evolve.

About the domain :

Founded in 1513, current estate keeper Alphonse Mellot is the 19th generation to run the family winery. The estate is located in the center of the village and boasts an extensive network of cellars. With 56 hectares of vineyards, Mellot produces Sancerre for supermarkets (the La Moussière cuvée, made from young vines, is stocked at Sainsbury's in the UK, for example) as well as top-level cuvées made from old vines, such as Cuvée Edmond, whose fruit comes from a 6-hectare plot of old vines within the 38-hectare La Moussière vineyard. The resulting style, fermented in wooden vats of different sizes, is pure and precise, and manages to retain mouth-watering acidity even in hot vintages like 2018, 2019 and 2020. The flagship cuvée, Génération XIX, comes from a one-hectare parcel in La Moussière where the vines are on average almost 90 years old. Handled delicately, it is fermented in 900-liter vats, resulting in an exceptional, seductive Sauvignon with intense purity and a structure that will allow it to age gracefully. The estate also produces Pinot Noir: La Demoiselle comes from a rare flint terroir that gives it a smoky, spicy, firm style, while the limestone soils of the Le Paradis vineyard, which contributes to Génération XIX rouge, offer a more seductive elegance, while the clay portion of Chambrates offers softness and ease. Nor does Pinot skimp on quality oak. An early adopter of biodynamic viticulture, the estate has been certified since 1999.