Lucien Crochet : Sancerre 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Notes of the 2023 Lucien Crochet Sancerre Rouge

Tasting

Colour
A light to medium-intensity red, enhanced by delicate ruby or mahogany highlights.

Nose
Wonderfully refined, the nose reveals an intense bouquet blending red fruit aromas such as cherry, raspberry and kirsch. The whole is lifted by subtle spicy, woody notes and a delicate floral touch of violet.

Palate
The palate offers a lovely breadth supported by supple, highly elegant tannins. Moderately powerful and remarkably fresh, it unfolds generous flavours of cherry and black tea, extending into a long, gently sweet finish.

Food and wine pairing

This red wine pairs beautifully with roast poultry, beef bourguignon or a pork roast with red berries. It will also go very well with dishes such as Basque-style tuna, duck with cherries, or vegetarian dishes like eggplant gratin or spinach with ricotta.

Service and storage

For optimal tasting, this 2023 Sancerre Rouge should be served at a temperature between 12 and 14°C. This wine can be enjoyed young, but also has the ageing potential to be cellared until around 2029.

The elegance and finesse of a great red wine from Sancerre

The estate

Located in Bué, in the heart of the Loire Valley, the Lucien Crochet estate is a key reference in its appellation. Born from the merger of the André Crochet and Lucien Picard estates in the mid-20th century, the vineyard now spans 38 hectares. A pioneer in estate bottling, the property was long led by Gilles Crochet. Following his passing in 2023, his wife Laurence and their son Clément now oversee this prestigious legacy, passionately upholding the excellence of the house.

The vineyard

The grapes for this Sancerre wine come from a vineyard cultivated according to organic and sustainable farming principles since 1989. The Pinot Noir vines, around 40 years old and planted at high density, thrive on hillsides at altitudes of 240 to 280 metres, facing east, south and southwest. The terroir is characterised by clay-limestone soils overlying Kimmeridgian and Oxfordian subsoils.

Winemaking and ageing

Following manual harvesting in small crates, the grapes are carefully sorted and then fully destemmed. This 2023 Sancerre Rouge undergoes fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, favouring a gentle infusion-style maceration of around 25 days with measured automatic punch-downs. The wine is then aged in 228-litre Burgundy barrels, crafted from wood sourced from local forests, which helps refine its structure.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir.