2023 Pascal Jolivet Sancerre Blanc Organic, Loire Valley

Pascal Jolivet’s Sancerre Blanc Organic from the Loire Valley is all about purity, precision, and that mouthwatering mineral edge Sancerre fans crave. Made with fruit from estate vineyards farmed organically on limestone-rich soils, it’s a textbook example of how Sauvignon Blanc can be both racy and refined when left to do its thing in the right hands.

Jolivet is a big name in the region but keeps his winemaking refreshingly restrained. Native yeasts, gravity-flow processes, no oak, and as little intervention as possible let the vineyard do the talking. The result is crystal-clear Sauvignon Blanc with tension, energy and a real sense of place.

Aromas leap out with lime zest, gooseberry and white flowers, layered over crushed stone and a hint of flint. On the palate it’s sleek and dry, with lemon-lime acidity, a gentle herbal thread and a clean, salty finish that lingers with just the right amount of grip. It’s zippy but not sharp, polished but never too polished.

Perfect with oysters, chèvre, sushi, grilled asparagus or anything citrus-driven. It’s also the kind of wine that doesn’t need food—just a warm afternoon and a chilled bottle will do.

Domaine Pascal Jolivet has been built up over years, acquiring plots among the best terroirs of Sancerre, France, in order cope with the demand of their exceptional wines. This is clean, lifted, tropical nose combines with notes of freshly cut grass. A refined expression Sauvignon Blanc with bright passionfruit flavours and a creamy mouth-feel texture that is unmistakably French.

Pascal Jolivet initially ran a negociant business out of a cellar in Pouilly-sur-Loire before starting a domaine called Le Grand Vins du Val in 1982. By 1987 the business had taken on Pascal's name, and he quickly built a name for himself due to the quality of his wines. Today the estate has around 28 hectares of vineyards covering the three terroirs of the region. 50% are on caillottes, the chalky soils typical in the region. 30% lie on the famous Kimmeridgian marls or terres blanches; soils dominated by limestone and clay. And the remaining 20% lie on silex or flint. The lieu-dit wines from Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé in particular, are stunning.