Alphonse Mellot : Génération XIX 2022

Characteristics and tasting notes of Sancerre "Génération XIX" 2022

Tasting notes

Appearance
Bright and clear, the wine reveals a pale yellow hue enhanced by delicate green highlights.

Nose
Highly complex, the bouquet opens with floral aromas of acacia and fresh citrus. With aeration, it reveals subtle notes of honey, mint and white fruits, underpinned by a deep mineral and iodine framework.

Palate
The attack is clean and generous, offering a mellow texture perfectly balanced by vibrant acidity. The mid-palate unfolds savoury hints of toasted hazelnut, leading to a long, saline finish marked by an elegant vegetal bitterness.

Food and wine pairing

This great white wine beautifully enhances seafood such as oysters or langoustines, as well as noble fish like grilled sea bass. It also pairs wonderfully with white meats in sauce, sweetbreads, or aged goat cheeses such as Crottin de Chavignol.

Serving and cellaring

For optimal tasting, it is recommended to serve this Sancerre "Génération XIX" 2022 at a temperature between 10 and 12°C as an aperitif, and between 12 and 14°C during a meal. Accessible today to enjoy its freshness, it also has a remarkable structure allowing it to evolve in the cellar until around 2032.

The masterful expression of a great Sancerre terroir

The estate

The history of the Mellot family in the Sancerre vineyard, in the heart of the Loire Valley, dates back to 1513. However, it was in 1980 that Alphonse Mellot Senior founded Domaine de la Moussière, a true jewel of the appellation. Today led by the Mellot family, and notably by Alphonse Mellot of the nineteenth generation, the estate stands out for its pioneering approach. Certified in organic and biodynamic farming, Domaine Alphonse Mellot produces cuvées of remarkable precision, elevating sauvignon blanc to the pinnacle of world gastronomy.

The vineyard

The cuvée comes from a plot of around 2.5 hectares located on the prestigious lieu-dit of La Moussière, in Sancerre. Facing south-southwest, these very old vines, over eighty years old, root deeply into soils composed of Kimmeridgian marls and limestone. The vineyard is managed according to the strict principles of biodynamics, with controlled yields and harvests carried out exclusively by hand in small crates to preserve the integrity of the berries.

The vintage

The 2022 vintage benefited from particularly balanced weather conditions. This mild weather favoured optimal ripening of the berries while preserving their natural acidity, essential to the freshness and tension characteristic of the region's great wines.

Vinification and ageing

The vinification of Sancerre "Génération XIX" 2022 is carried out with great care. Fermentation and ageing take place in large truncated conical wooden vats with a capacity of 900 litres. Extended ageing on lees enriches the wine's texture and adds complexity to its aromatic palette, while preserving the original purity of the fruit.

Grape variety

100% sauvignon blanc