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2023 Sancerre Rosé
Domaine Hippolyte ReverdySancerre
Every year when Domaine Hippolyte Reverdy’s iconic label returns to the Berkeley shop in its medieval lettering and black and white simplicity, my heart—and taste buds—feel a special flutter. The Sancerre blanc and rouge don’t stick around for terribly long, their revered (pun intended) reputations sending cases flying from the stacks. But what always seems to go the fastest is my personal favorite, their fabulous Pinot Noir rosé.
Truth be told, it’s rather rare for our retail staff to receive a specific bottle with such unanimous excitement, especially given the amount of phenomenal rosé that arrives around the same time each year. But amidst all the blush-hued splendor in the shop, there’s something extra delightful about Reverdy’s rendition, bursting with juicy grapefruit and pomelo, as though a paloma decided to slip on a wine disguise. It’s not uncommon to see multiple members of our team snatching up a case (or more!) to satisfy thirsty palates through the lazy, hazy Bay Area summer.
If you’re lucky enough to have fresh, local market purveyors, an understated seasonal crudo—whether fish or vegetable—is a fantastic complement, but if you like rosé alongside pizza (who doesn’t), picnicky fare like salads and sandwiches, or charcuterie and cheeses, it will also be an excellent choice to suit your needs. In fact, there’s hardly anything that comes to mind that wouldn’t be a treat. This is summertime rosé at its finest.
—Allyson Noman
Wine Type: | Rosé |
Vintage: | 2023 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Pinot Noir |
Appellation: | Sancerre |
Country: | France |
Region: | Loire |
Producer: | Domaine Hippolyte Reverdy |
Winemaker: | Julie Guiard |
Vineyard: | 30 years average, 3 ha |
Soil: | Clay, Kimmeridgian Limestone |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 13% |
More from this Producer or Region
2023 Sancerre HALF BOTTLE
France | Loire
Reverdy’s trademark is a generous flavor of blossoming flowers channeled over the palate, culminating in a finely etched mineral finish.
2023 Sancerre
France | Loire
Reverdy’s trademark is a generous flavor of blossoming flowers channeled over the palate, culminating in a finely etched mineral finish.
2022 Sancerre Rouge
France | Loire
Chotard has crafted a delicious, complex, and elegant rouge that gives many village Burgundies a run for their money.
2019 Vin de France Rouge Grolleau/Cabernet Franc “Clandestine”
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A lovely combination of Grolleau Noir and Cabernet Franc, there seems to be a synergistic effect elevating both grapes to create a juicy, spicy, refreshing whole.
2022 Sancerre Rouge
France | Loire
Pure, classy fruit sing tenor without any interference from the earthy bass that often makes itself heard in Bourgogne rouge.
2020 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Clisson “La Molette”
France | Loire
A subtly floral nose and textured mouthfeel seal the deal. This is off-the-charts Muscadet.
2018 Saumur Blanc “L’Échelier”
France | Loire
This chiseled Chenin Blanc comes from 70-year-old vines planted on an ancient limestone slope. Burgundian-like in character from its time spent in barrel, the laser-like acidity will become even more enticing with some age.
2018 Sancerre “Cuvée Ortus”
France | Loire
The rarest of the Reverdy cuvées, Ortus was really an invention at the urging of Kermit, who has a fondness for Sauvignon with full malolactic fermentation, aged in wood, bottled unfiltered, generally treated like a white Burgundy.
2023 Gros-Plant du Pays Nantais
France | Loire
This racy wine is a perfect match for all types of crustaceans as well all by itself on a sunny afternoon.
2021 Chinon “Les Petites Roches”
France | Loire
Showing off Cabernet in its most delicate, charming form, rife with aromas of roses, damp earth, and little red berries.
About The Producer
Domaine Hippolyte Reverdy
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.
More from Loire or France
2022 Reuilly Pinot Gris Rosé
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2020 Chardonnay
Éric Chevalier France | Loire
2021 Saumur Champigny “Terres Chaudes”
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2023 Vouvray “La Dilettante”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2022 Coteaux du Loir Rouge “Cuvée du Rosier”
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2021 Vouvray “Pierres Rousses”
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2023 Anjou Rouge “Clos de la Cerisaie”
Château d'Epiré France | Loire
2022 Quincy “Vieilles Vignes”
Domaine Trotereau France | Loire
2022 Chinon “Beaux Monts”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2022 Bourgueil Clairet “Avis de Vin Fort”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2018 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine “Gorges”
Domaine Michel Brégeon France | Loire
2021 Chinon “Les Grézeaux”
Bernard Baudry France | Loire
2022 Reuilly Pinot Gris Rosé
Domaine de Reuilly France | Loire
2020 Chardonnay
Éric Chevalier France | Loire
2021 Saumur Champigny “Terres Chaudes”
Domaine des Roches Neuves France | Loire
2023 Vouvray “La Dilettante”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2022 Coteaux du Loir Rouge “Cuvée du Rosier”
Pascal Janvier France | Loire
2021 Vouvray “Pierres Rousses”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2023 Anjou Rouge “Clos de la Cerisaie”
Château d'Epiré France | Loire
2022 Quincy “Vieilles Vignes”
Domaine Trotereau France | Loire
2022 Chinon “Beaux Monts”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2022 Bourgueil Clairet “Avis de Vin Fort”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2018 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine “Gorges”
Domaine Michel Brégeon France | Loire
2021 Chinon “Les Grézeaux”
Bernard Baudry France | Loire
Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
When buying red Burgundy, I think we should remember:
1. Big wines do not age better than light wine.
2. A so-called great vintage at the outset does not guarantee a great vintage for the duration.
3. A so-called off vintage at the outset does not mean the wines do not have a brilliant future ahead of them.
4. Red Burgundy should not taste like Guigal Côte-Rôtie, even if most wine writers wish it would.
5. Don’t follow leaders; watch yer parking meters.
Inspiring Thirst, page 174