Domaine Claude Riffault "Les Boucauds" Sancerre, Loire Valley, France 2024

FROM EUROPEAN CELLARS:

THE WINE: 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Sourced from several plots all situated in the lieu-dit of Les Boucauds, this cuvée employs close to 50% of the Sauvignon Blanc planted on the estate. Entirely from terres blanches soils – marls and clays over Kimmeridgian limestone – this wine represents a pure expression of this site as well as the deft winemaking of Stéphane Riffault.

THE PRODUCER: Stéphane Riffault (Claude’s son and now the owner of the estate) is turning out Sancerre bottlings that are the envy of many producers twice his age. As David Schildknecht put it, “Make no mistake: this address in the hamlet of Maison Salle (Sury-en-Vaux) is now one of the five or six most exciting estates in the Sancerre appellation.” Given that Stephane’s holdings represent 4-tenths of 1 percent of the appellation, he is clearly doing something right.

Having studied and worked in Burgundy (and closely with Olivier Leflaive), it’s easy to see the Burgundian influence in Stéphane’s wines. The mastery of minerality standing shoulder–height with the wood is rarely duplicated in Sancerre. Regardless of his parcels’ exposition (many are south-facing), Riffault’s wines are always crisp and high-cut with a jeweled delineation that speaks to the precision and attention these wines get. These are not your daddy’s (or his daddy, Claude’s) Sancerres.

NOTE: This bottle is allocated and therefore stock is limited. Discounts do not apply to this product.