Patrick Noël Sancerre Rouge Loire Valley France 2020

You may be asking yourself, Sancerre rouge? Yes, vignerons in this region of the Loire Valley have been known for centuries primarily for jaw-dropping, mouthwatering, long-lived Sauvignon Blanc. But, since 1959, they have also been permitted to make small, highly sought-after quantities of ethereal Pinot Noir, which today account for around 20% of the appellation’s output. Pourquoi pas? After all, the village of Sancerre lies on an outcropping of the same ancient chalk beds that run clear north and east through nearby Burgundy and Champagne, and the region’s cooler climate is perfect for Pinot Noir. And, unlike their neighbors, these wines can still be bought (and enjoyed) for a song!

Winemaker Julie Noël is one of the rising stars of the Loire Valley wine scene and is today making some of the region’s most structured and soulful Pinot Noir. Her family sustainably farms 34 acres of vines planted in 1988 by her father Patrick in the region’s famous, flinty silex soil. This particular wine comes from their tiny one-acre plot of Pinot Noir near the medieval hamlet of Chavignol, a few kilometers outside the village of Sancerre proper. The grapes for the exceptional 2020 Patrick Noël Sancerre rouge were hand-harvested and fermented whole-cluster using native yeasts. Julie opted for a ten-day maceration with twice-daily pumpovers, but these are short and gentle to preserve the fresh fruit characteristics of the wine. The wine was racked once, then left undisturbed in enameled stainless-steel tanks until bottling the following summer. Offering a mix of red and black fruit flavors – this Pinot Noir is reminiscent of red cherries and dark plum with aromas of sweet baking spices, dusty cocoa powder, hints of leather, and layers of minerality. These flavors are joyously complemented by bright acidity and soft, chewy tannins making this wine as classic as they come! Just 200 cases produced.