2021 Gerard Boulay La Cote Sancerre, Loire Valley

Gérard Boulay La Côte Sancerre is a beautifully poised and quietly powerful expression of Sauvignon Blanc that shows the more serious, age worthy side of Sancerre. La Côte is a prized hillside vineyard just outside the village of Chavignol, with steep slopes and classic Kimmeridgian limestone soils similar to those found in nearby Chablis. This terroir gives the wine its trademark tension, chalky minerality and remarkable precision.

Domaine Gérard Boulay is one of Sancerre’s most respected family estates, with roots stretching back several generations. Today the domaine is led by Gérard Boulay, whose wines are prized for their restraint, purity and deep connection to site. Farming is thoughtful and low impact, yields are kept modest, and winemaking is deliberately hands off. La Côte is fermented and matured to emphasise structure and minerality rather than aromatic excess, resulting in a wine that feels calm, confident and built to last.

In the glass, the aromatics are refined and layered. Lemon zest, lime and green apple sit alongside white peach, crushed herbs and a subtle smoky flint note. With air, the wine reveals deeper notes of chalk dust, fennel and citrus blossom, all held in check by a sense of freshness and restraint.

On the palate, Gérard Boulay La Côte Sancerre is dry, taut and beautifully shaped. Bright citrus flavours are driven by firm, mouthwatering acidity and a strong mineral core. The texture is fine and chalky rather than broad, with impressive length and persistence. The finish is long, saline and precise, lingering with citrus peel, wet stone and a gentle savoury edge.

This is a Sancerre made for food and for patience. It pairs superbly with oysters, shellfish, goat’s cheese, grilled fish or refined vegetable dishes. While excellent now with some time in the glass, it will continue to evolve gracefully over five to ten years, gaining extra depth and savoury complexity.

Gérard Boulay La Côte Sancerre is elegant, mineral and deeply expressive of place. A benchmark Sancerre that rewards attention and proves why Boulay remains one of the region’s most trusted names.