The Smart Sancerre Buy for 2024
With 2024 shaping up to be one of the tightest Loire vintages in recent memory,especially for Sancerre, we are thrilled to offer a wine that delivers everything you love about the region without the scarcity pricing or limited allocations: From one of our absolute favorite Loire Valley families, Henri Bourgeois crafts benchmark expressions of Sauvignon Blanc rooted in terroir transparency. While many know them for their Sancerre, their holdings in Menetou-Salon are every bit as delicious, showcasing savory green herbs and chalky minerality. This is becoming, in my mind, more and more like what Sancerre used to be. Here’s the key: the soils in Menetou-Salon are geologically identical to those of Sancerre. The same Kimmeridgian limestone and marl that give Sancerre its unmistakable cut and minerality. In the glass, that translates to vibrant citrus, white peach, crushed stone, and that mouthwatering snap of acidity that defines great Loire Sauvignon Blanc. And with very little 2024 Sancerre expected to reach the U.S. market, Menetou-Salon becomes more than a “smart alternative”. It becomes the insider’s choice.. The 2024 vintage shows remarkable clarity and freshness. Showing grapefruit zest, lime blossom, and a savory herbal edge, the wine is energetic. On the palate, it is clean, linear, and beautifully mineral-driven, finishing crisp and dry with lingering salinity. It’s exactly what you want on the table whether paired with oysters, goat cheese, spring vegetables, or simply enjoyed as an aperitif. We love this producer because they treat every appellation with the same rigor and respect. There is no “second tier” mentality here. There is a commitment to expressing site over ego. In a year when Sancerre will be difficult to secure in meaningful quantities, this wine offers authenticity and outstanding value.
