Sancerre 'Grande Cuvee', Domaine Jean-Paul Balland 2020

This domaine, long considered one of the best in the village of Bué, is now run by Jean-Paul's two daughters, Elise and Isabelle. There are 20 hectares of carefully managed vines, with particularly fine plots in Le Grand Chemarin and Le Chene Marchand. The sumptious 'Grande Cuvee' is from two hectares of specially selected parcels on clay and limestone pebble soils. 60% is fermented and aged in large new oak barrels (the rest in stainless steel) with regular battonage over 12 months, resulting in a complex, textured expression of Sauvignon Blanc with exceptional depth and richness but underlying mineral freshness.

Sauvignon Blanc

Loire Valley, France

 13.5%