Alphonse Mellot, Sancerre ROUGE "En Grands Champs"

Despite contending with odd weather, the 2014 vintage for the Loire Valley was very good overall.

Both the winter and spring were unusually warm and dry prompting an early budbreak in April, a successful flowering also followed suit. However, these balmy conditions were not to last and an abnormally cool, damp summer set in. It was only mid-August when the weather eventually dried out and warmed up. Hot, dry conditions in September pushed the grapes to phenolic ripeness and cooling breezes throughout the valley kept the grapes rot-free. Despite the dank summer, the harvest was not only rescued, but a success.

Winery: Domaine Alphonse Mellot
Appellation: Loire Valley, Sancerre
Average age of vines: 72 years old
Farming Methods: Organic - Certified | Biodynamic
Maturation: 11 months, half in wooden vats and half in 600-litre casks, end of maturing en masse for a minimum of 6-8 months
Soil: Limestone soil
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard Orientation: South
Vineyard Size: 1 hectare

Wine	Scores	Downloads	Reviews
Alphonse Mellot, Sancerre ROUGE "En Grands Champs" 2014	94 Wine Enthusiast From old vines planted in a single vineyard, this is a spectacular red. It has the crisp acidity of the cool-climate Sancerre, but it also has the weight and ripeness of a fine Burgundy. The wood aging has left a spicy toasty edge to the beautiful cherry fruits and acidity. It could age for another year to be at its best. Drink from 2019. — Roger Voss 92 Wine Advocate From 66-year-old vines on limestone soils, the 2014 Sancerre En Grands Champs offers a deep, elegant and floral, as well as spicy bouquet with perfectly ripe red and dark fruit aromas. Firm, fresh and pure on the palate, this is an excellent Pinot Noir with a firm mineral and tannic structure, but also a stunning finesse and a serious charm. The finish is stimulatingly fresh and salty, and indicates a very good aging potential.	Bottle Image Label Image Shelf Talker Tech Sheet
Alphonse Mellot, Sancerre ROUGE "En Grands Champs" 2018	93 Wine Advocate The deep colored 2018 Sancerre En Grands Champs Rouge is very dark, deep, pure and intense on the slightly perfumed as well as oxidative nose. On the palate, this is a rich and refreshing, refined and elegant red Sancerre with leathery tones but lots of finesse and vitality. Fine tannins carry this perfectly ripe and intense Pinot Nor to a good, food-friendly finish. 13% stated alcohol. Diam cork. Tasted in December 2022.	Bottle Image Label Image Shelf Talker Tech Sheet