2021 Vincent Pinard Chene Marchand Sancerre, Loire Valley

The 2021 Sancerre Chêne Marchand is a powerful, long-lived style with masses of concentration inside a mid-weight package. There is a ripeness of almost tropical fruit alongside nectarines and a touch of green gooseberry. A light creamy flavour joins the fruit. It is impressive structured and firm. This will go the distance. Drink 2023-2033.

95 points Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous July 2023

Domaine Vincent Pinard is one of the great names of Sancerre, with brothers Florent and Clément Pinard continuing their family's long winemaking tradition in the village of Bué. Their beautifully crafted Sauvignon Blancs are celebrated for their purity, texture and remarkable ability to age. Chêne Marchand is one of the domaine's finest vineyard expressions, producing wines of exceptional finesse and mineral character.

The Chêne Marchand vineyard sits on the limestone slopes of Bué, where the chalky soils contribute structure and a distinctive mineral tension. The cooler 2021 vintage produced a particularly refined Sancerre, with vibrant acidity, delicate fruit and an elegant, tightly woven character.

Pale straw yellow with green highlights. Lemon zest, white grapefruit and crisp green apple mingle with elderflower, fresh herbs and a hint of flint. The palate is taut and beautifully textured, with precise citrus fruit, lively acidity and a pronounced chalky mineral character. Subtle notes of white peach and wet stone carry through a long, saline finish.

Try it with freshly shucked oysters, grilled whiting with lemon and parsley, or asparagus and goat's cheese tart. Its freshness and mineral character also make it an excellent partner for Japanese sashimi and delicate seafood dishes.

Cellaring: Drink now to 2034+. The freshness and structure of 2021 should reward several more years in the cellar, developing greater savoury complexity.