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• Origin: Sancerre, Loire, France
• Appellation: Sancerre AOC
• Grape variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
• Alcohol percentage: approx. 13.0%
• Style: Round yet crisp, mineral, saline and refined
• Ageing potential: Now until 2035+
• Rating: 92/100 Wine Advocate – 92/100 Vinous
Sancerre “Les Boucauds” 2023 is a layered and full-bodied Sauvignon Blanc that exceptionally combines richness and precision. On the nose, notes of ripe lemon, pear and white peach, complemented by white flowers, subtle spiciness and a distinct flint and limestone touch. On the palate, the wine is round and textural, yet remains crisp and energetic thanks to vibrant acidity and a pronounced chalky, saline tension. The finish is long, pure and mineral, with an elegant, dry precision that lingers.
Vinification.
The grapes are hand-picked and carefully selected. After gentle pressing, the must ferments spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, with minimal intervention to allow the terroir to express itself fully. The wine ages for a long time on fine lees to build texture and complexity, typically around 14 to 16 months, in a combination of tanks and (partly) neutral barrels. After bottling, bottle ageing follows so that the wine better integrates its tension and volume before release.
The Estate.
Domaine Claude Riffault is one of Sancerre's absolute top producers and is known for its precise, terroir-driven style. The estate is managed organically, with great attention to biodiversity, soil health and manual work in the vineyard. In the cellar, as little intervention as possible is used: natural yeasts, gentle vinification and plot-by-plot ageing ensure that each cuvée retains its own identity. "Les Boucauds" is one of the estate's core cuvées and combines texture, minerality and ageing potential at a high level.
