98 Points
Legendary

Domaine Vacheron Sancerre ‘Le Pave’ 2020

Vacheron Le Pave is a captivating white wine, guaranteed to delight serious connoisseurs of the world’s rarest wine such as Raveneau and Coche Dury. The oh-so-exotic & refreshing thrill ride commences with honeysuckle, lemon zest, golden delicious apples, Key lime tart, and sea breeze that float on the palate. The exhilarating texture and superb balance make this a virtually irresistible white wine now, although this particular Reserve-level bottling is renowned as one of France’s most age-worthy whites. This Sancerre is as good as it gets. Enjoy anytime over the next 5 – 7 years.

The Winery

The Vacherons are without question Sancerre’s leading winemaking clan. From the family’s pioneering work in identifying and exploiting the region’s top terroirs to their leading position in biodynamic viticulture today, there are few if any artisans in Sancerre as exacting or as respected. Great-grandfather Maurice Vacheron tended a few vines back when Sancerre was but a stop on a village road. His son, Jean, was the first of the family to specialize in producing wine, paying particular attention to the influence of terroir on Sauvignon Blanc. Jean’s sons, Denis and Jean-Louis, solidified the Vacheron name in Sancerre, showcasing the family’s talent with not only Sauvignon Blanc but also Pinot Noir. Today, Denis’ son, Jean-Laurent, and Jean-Louis’ son, Jean-Dominique (photo below), have taken the estate to a whole new level of quality, championing biodynamic viticulture and selecting singular vineyard parcels that the family has observed for generations (and planted with their own hands) to bottle as single-vineyard wines, with the goal of showcasing the heights that Sancerre can reach.

The Wine

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