Sancerre 'Cuvée Silex', Domaine Serge Laloue

An intense and precise wine with intense aromas of smoky graphite complemented by zesty orange peel and Mirabelle plum through to an uplifting flinty and saline finish.

Producer Note

The domain is located five kilometres south of Sancerre in Thauvenay and was established by Serge Laloue in the 1960s. Christine and her brother Franck have continued their father’s work since the 1990s and Clément, Franck's son, recently joined the domain following his viticulture studies. The estate revolves around an environmentally responsible approach with meticulous work in the vineyards to respect the natural balance of the vines and obtain the highest quality grapes. In 2019, the domain started the conversion to organic farming, a natural progression as their farming methods were already very close to organic. The first certified organic vintage will be 2023. The domain is HVE certified, a complementary certification recognising environmental biodiversity and natural resource management. 

Vintage

The winter of 2019 was mild with average rainfall. This sparked the vine’s growth cycle and bud break took place early. The summer was warm and dry, with several heat-waves, which allowed the vines to flourish, the grapes to mature and concentrated the flavours in the berries. The natural water reserves prevented any hydric stress. Harvest took place in the first week of September, resulting in elegant wines with excellent fruit concentration, balanced by natural acidity. 

Vineyard

The appellation of Sancerre is part of the "central vineyards" of the Loire Valley, with almost all of the appellation situated on the left bank of the Loire River, opposite Pouilly Fumé. This region has a continental climate, as it is some 400 kilometres from the Atlantic Coast, with short, hot summers and long, cold winters. Early spring frosts are an annual threat in the vineyards. These vines are grown in chalky soils which provide good drainage for the vines.

Winemaking

The grapes were carefully selected and gently pressed before the must was vinified in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. Fermentation took place with selected yeasts and once fermentation was complete, the wine was matured on its fine lees for 10 months, with lees stirring imparting texture and subtle complexity. This cuvée was made without the influence of oak, to showcase the purity of fruit and express the flinty notes of the Silex soils

Tasting Note

Intense aromas of smoky graphite and mineral notes of oyster shell are complemented by zesty orange peel and Mirabelle plum. This fresh, supple cuvée delivers concentrated citrus flavours through to a bright and uplifting mineral finish.

Grape

Sauvignon Blanc 100%