Sancerre, the most famous appellation of the Centre Loire, produces the most
imitated Sauvignon Blanc wines in the world. The chalky and silex soils are
ideal for fresh, fruity Sauvignon Blanc and perfumed, full Pinot Noir. Wine
making has a long history in Sancerre. Gregory of Tours wrote of vineyards here
in 582 and local wines enjoyed a good reputation as long ago as the twelfth
century.
The vineyards lie on a series of hillsides dominated by the "Piton" or peak of
Sancerre. The geology of the soil is a fortunate coincidence of nature resulting
in three kinds of terroirs, Terres Blanches ("white earth") is compact chalk on
top of kimmeridgean marl and is characteristic of the western part of the
region. Les Caillottes is gravel and limestone. Flinty, silex-clay soil is found
in the eastern vineyards. Each type of soil produces wines of differing
character. Some producers like to blend wines from the three terroirs for
balance, while others prefer to let the character of the terroir determine the
character of the wine. Although it is far from common practice, some producers
will age exceptional wines in wood. These wines develop an exceptionally rich
flavor and a pungent floral bouquet after several years in the bottle.
White Sancerre is lively and fruity. Its aroma suggests both citrus fruits
(especially grapefruit) and the mineral-rich soil in which it was grown. The
aroma of red Sancerre suggests Morello cherries. The wines are light bodied and
supple with a long finish. They, like the white wines, are ideally suited to the
goat cheese for which the Centre Loire is also famous.
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