Eric Louis Les Montachins Sancerre 2021
A racy, single plot Sancerre with a sleek texture and crisp notes of citrus, white peach, lemongrass and chalky, flinty notes. Pure, youthful and balanced in a fresh style.
Les Montachins is a tiny parcel of less than one hectare, planted on steep, flinty slopes with an excellent exposure to sunlight. The flinty soils contribute to the fresh style of this cuvée. The name ‘Les Montachins’ was given to this steep, mountain-like plot, which is located in the village of Ménétréol-sous-Sancerre. It still features an old vineyard hut, which would have provided welcome respite for the workers on this challenging, steep site. The vineyard is meticulously farmed with the greatest respect for the environment; for many years the vines have been cultivated without chemical preparations, biodiversity has been encouraged and soil preservation strategies have been employed, along with water resource management. In 2019, they were awrded the HVE Level 3 certification, and since 2020 the estate has been in conversion to organic certification. Harvesting takes place during the cool of the night to maintain freshness.
The grapes were gently pressed to extract the very best aromatic and flavour expression then the must underwent cold settling without the addition of sulphur. Fermentation took place under controlled temperatures of 15°C to 18°C in stainless steel tanks, lasting for three to four weeks. The wine was matured in stainless steel tanks on its fine lees with regular bâtonnage for eight months imparting texture. Bottling took place under inert conditions to limit the amount of sulphur
Eric Louis, fourth generation winemaker in Sancerre, is following in the footsteps of his ancestors. The estate was founded in 1860 by Eric’s grandmother Pauline, who gave her name to the then named ‘Les Celliers de la Pauline’ estate. The estate, which is located in the south-eastern area of the Sancerre appellation, was passed down to Eric's parents, Ginette and Léon, who steered the family business towards quality viticulture and abandoned polyculture in the 1980s. Today, the 35-hectare vineyard covers a mosaic of over 60 plots surrounding the villages of Thauvenay, Ménétréol-sous-Sancerre and Vinon. With a rich diversity of geological profiles, Eric meticulously cultivates the vines with the greatest respect for each terroir and the environment. The estate is HVE Level 3 certified and in conversion to being certified organic. The utmost care is taken with vinification, employing minimal sulphur to ensure the wines fully express the intricacies of the terroir of this famous region. The wines are refined, precise and mineral with wonderful fruit expression.
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