Alphonse Mellot Sancerre La Moussière 2024

Heroic Sancerre from a great vintage.

Biodynamic and hand harvested. This beautiful, rolling vineyard with cultivated, incredibly rocky, limestone soils lies on the ancient Saint-Doulchard belt which forms a part of the great Kimmeridgian chain (à la Chablis). This terroir, when coupled with this house’s meticulous biodynamic farming and low yields, is responsible for some of Sancerre’s most striking and atypical wines.

Those who crave substance, purity and tension in their white wines will be well up for this. As usual, 50% of this wine undergoes large-format barrel fermentation (in huge wooden fermenters) – a fact that in no way compromises the fabulous line, elegance and energy – while the balance is raised in traditional concrete vats, before blending. The wines are aged on fine lees for a period of roughly 12 months, further enhancing the wine’s famously deep, pulpy texture. This flesh is balanced by threads of tangy, pink grapefruit, nettle and citrus pith notes and a long, saline finish. A captivating La Moussière from a super year for Loire whites.