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2020 Sancerre Rouge “Le Chant de l’Archet”
Daniel ChotardOnce, white wines from Sancerre were a rarity, and Pinot Noir rouge reigned supreme, an order of things that lasted for centuries. In more modern times, as the world thirsted for crisp, lively whites, Sancerre stepped up with such roaring success that it nearly became a household name for “white wine.” Pinot Noir, suddenly shoved into the back seat, was almost a victim of the region’s popularity. Thankfully, Simon Chotard has spent the last decade or so deeply focusing on his reds, releasing micro-cuvées of Pinot Noir from his oldest vines and most interesting plots. His Chant de l’Archet cuvée comes from two parcels of prime real estate (mid-slope and south-facing) on the celebrated “cirque de Reigny,” the amphitheater hill around his village. A slow, cold ferment and a long élevage in old wood help showcase the elegance, dark fruit, and spiced nose of this profound and grand Pinot.
—Chris Santini
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2020 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Pinot Noir |
Appellation: | Sancerre |
Country: | France |
Region: | Loire |
Producer: | Daniel Chotard |
Winemaker: | Daniel Chotard |
Vineyard: | 55 years average, 1 ha |
Soil: | Clay, Limestone, Kimmeridgian marl |
Aging: | Ages both in stainless steel and barriques (2%) – barrels come from the Hospices de Beaune in Burgundy after 1, 2, and 3 years of use |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 14.5% |
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About The Producer
Daniel Chotard
About The Region
Loire
The defining feature of the Loire Valley, not surprisingly, is the Loire River. As the longest river in France, spanning more than 600 miles, this river connects seemingly disparate wine regions. Why else would Sancerre, with its Kimmeridgian limestone terroir be connected to Muscadet, an appellation that is 250 miles away?
Secondary in relevance to the historical, climatic, environmental, and cultural importance of the river are the wines and châteaux of the Jardin de la France. The kings and nobility of France built many hundreds of châteaux in the Loire but wine preceded the arrival of the noblesse and has since out-lived them as well.
Diversity abounds in the Loire. The aforementioned Kimmderidgian limestone of Sancerre is also found in Chablis. Chinon, Bourgueil, and Saumur boast the presence of tuffeau, a type of limestone unique to the Loire that has a yellowish tinge and a chalky texture. Savennières has schist, while Muscadet has volcanic, granite, and serpentinite based soils. In addition to geologic diversity, many, grape varieties are grown there too: Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Melon de Bourgogne are most prevalent, but (to name a few) Pinot Gris, Grolleau, Pinot Noir, Pineau d’Aunis, and Folle Blanche are also planted. These myriad of viticultural influences leads to the high quality production of every type of wine: red, white, rosé, sparkling, and dessert.
Like the Rhône and Provence, some of Kermit’s first imports came from the Loire, most notably the wines of Charles Joguet and Château d’Epiré—two producers who are featured in Kermit’s book Adventures on the Wine Route and with whom we still work today.
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Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
I want you to realize once and for all: Even the winemaker does not know what aging is going to do to a new vintage; Robert Parker does not know; I do not know. We all make educated (hopefully) guesses about what the future will bring, but guesses they are. And one of the pleasures of a wine cellar is the opportunity it provides for you to witness the evolution of your various selections. Living wines have ups and downs just as people do, periods of glory and dog days, too. If wine did not remind me of real life, I would not care about it so much.
Inspiring Thirst, page 171