Sancerre White Wine (French Sauvignon Blanc): 10 Best Bottles, Taste, Prices

The coveted Sancerre Blanc is one of the best expressions of Sauvignon Blanc in the world. It is typically a medium to full-bodied, dry white wine made solely from the Sauvignon Blanc grape variety.

So, which is the best bottle of Sancerre wine to buy?

Let’s explore the remarkable Sancerre white wine, 10 exceptional bottles in 2022, its taste profile, winemaking, aging potential, and how Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc wines differ from other Sauvignon Blancs.

10 Brilliant Sancerre White Wine Bottles To Buy In 2022

Here are 10 remarkable white Sancerre wines:

• 2015 Edmond Vatan Sancerre Clos la Neore
• 2018 Domaine Vacheron Sancerre ‘L’Enclos des Remparts’
• 2018 Louis-Benjamin - Didier Dagueneau Sancerre ‘Le Mont Damne’
• 2015 Domaine Laporte Sancerre Le Grand Rochoy
• 2012 Francois Cotat Sancerre Cuvee Paul
• 2016 Vincent Gaudry Sancerre A Mi-Chemin
• 2018 Domaine Hubert Brochard Sancerre Tradition
• 2019 Pascal Cotat Sancerre La Grande Cote
• 2019 Domaine Vacheron Sancerre
• 2018 Domaine Christian Salmon Sancerre

1. 2015 Edmond Vatan Sancerre Clos la Neore, Loire, France ($418)

The 2015 Sancerre Clos la Neore is an ethereal white wine with a captivating aroma of citrus fruit, pineapple, herbs, and anise spice. It displays an underlying minerality, medium acidity, and a lingering finish.

2. 2018 Domaine Vacheron Sancerre ‘L’Enclos des Remparts’, Loire, France ($213)

This 2018 vintage offers intense ripe fruit, almond, citrus, and raisin aromas with a fresh palate of fine tannins, hazelnut flavor, and a long flinty finish.

3. 2018 Louis-Benjamin - Didier Dagueneau Sancerre ‘Le Mont Damné', Loire, France ($167)

The 2018 Le Mont Damne showcases a complex bouquet of peach, lime, walnut, and chalk. The palate has a striking minerality and a persistent finish.

4. 2015 Domaine Laporte Sancerre Le Grand Rochoy, Loire, France ($144)

The 2015 Domaine Laporte Sancerre Blanc has rich spice, gooseberry, and fruit aromas. It offers a crisp palate of citrus fruit and honeydew melon flavors with lively acidity and a long finish.

5. 2012 Francois Cotat Sancerre Cuvee Paul, Loire, France ($140)

The 2012 Cuvee Paul displays a nose of citrus, exotic spice, gooseberry, and pear that compliments the bright grapefruit and orange flavors on the palate. The wine has a long mineral finish.

6. 2016 Vincent Gaudry Sancerre A Mi-Chemin, Loire, France ($126)

This 2016 Sancerre wine has remarkable tension with smokiness, minerality, and fresh fruit aromas. It presents silky textures, good acidity, and mineral sharpness.

7. 2018 Domaine Hubert Brochard Sancerre Tradition, Loire, France ($60)

The 2018 Sancerre Tradition has citrus, herbs, white flowers, and fresh apple notes. This refreshing wine has a light texture and firm acidity with a strong limestone finish.

8. 2019 Pascal Cotat Sancerre La Grande Cote, Loire, France ($56)

The 2019 La Grande Cote showcases a bouquet of green pea, pear, and basil with an intense ripe fruit flavor and a lengthy finish.

9. 2019 Domaine Vacheron Sancerre, Loire, France ($34)

The outstanding 2019 Domaine Vacheron is an exceptional wine with a bright aroma of stone fruit, basil, and lemon zest. It has a rich texture with lip-smacking acidity and an appealing finish.

10. 2018 Domaine Christian Salmon Sancerre, Loire, France ($26)

This 2018 Sancerre wine offers pear, gooseberry, white flower, and mineral notes with elderberry and grapefruit flavor on the palate.

Sancerre White Wine: Tasting Notes And Serving Tips

In general, this delicious wine showcases eloquent fruit, white flower, and mineral notes with lively acidity and a classic mineral finish that reflects the appellation’s unique terroir.

Serve this wine chilled at 50-54°F (10-12°C) with light dishes like seafood, white fish, roast chicken, and salads.

This French wine also pairs well with goat cheese and soft cheese.

Are Sancerre White Wines Age-Worthy?

You can enjoy these wines young or even age them for up to a decade in a wine cellar to gain additional complexity.

Some of the finest ones display great aging potential. For example, the 2012 Cuvee Paul can be cellared for 50 years.

Looking to invest in French Bordeaux or Sancerre wine?

Sign up on the Vinovest website to build a portfolio of investment-grade wines like a fine bottle of Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Noir.

Sancerre White Wine: Terroir And Winemaking

Interestingly, it is not the only wine style produced in the Sancerre appellation. This Loire Valley appellation also produces Rosé and red Sancerre wines made from the Pinot Noir grape variety.

Previously, red wine was widely produced in the region - until phylloxera affected the grape vines, wiping out most of the vineyard plots in the Loire Valley (and also Champagne and other parts of Europe.) 

Today, white grapes dominate this wine region. 

The wine region is planted with 80% Sauvignon Blanc vines and 20% Pinot Noir vine plantings (used to make red wine.)

What does the terroir of Sancerre look like?

Since the Sancerre appellation is situated near the Loire river, it has a relatively cool and continental climate that is perfect for growing the Sauvignon Blanc grape variety and preserving its natural acidity.

The vineyard sites are situated on the south-facing slopes to facilitate perfect ripening and prevent frost damage.

Sancerre has three different subtypes of soils:

• Caillottes (Coarse Kimmeridgian limestone soils) 
• Terres Blanches (Calcareous clay with Kimmeridgian limestone) 
• Silex (Flinty soils) 

The grapes also acquire floral notes, nuanced fruit flavors, and minerality from these flinty and limestone soils of the appellation (mostly Terres blanches and Caillottes.)

How is Sancerre white wine made?

Most winemakers vinify the grape varieties in stainless steel tanks without malolactic fermentation or oak aging to preserve the fresh and fruit-forward taste of their Sancerre wine. 

The wine is then aged sur-lie or (kept in contact with dead-yeast cells for some time before filtration) to bring out its beautiful texture.

Sancerre White Wine Vs. Other Sauvignon Blanc Wines

Only Sauvignon Blanc wine crafted in the Sancerre appellation of Loire Valley is called a Sancerre wine.

White Sancerre wines have a high alcohol content and rich mineral notes. They provide the structure and texture that is characteristic of the region’s terroir.

On the other hand, typical fruit-forward Sauvignon Blancs showcase more intense aromas and grassy characteristics.

Relish A Glass of Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc!

A glass of Sancerre white is an experience you do not want to miss! So, don’t think twice about adding this exquisite French wine to your collection.

Vinovest is a leading wine investment company that can help you buy, store, and sell authentic Champagne, Muscadet, and Pinot Noir vintages from across the world. Visit the website to know more.