2024 Christian Salmon Sancerre AC, Loire Valley

Christian Salmon Sancerre AC from the Loire Valley is a beautifully pure, mineral driven and classically elegant expression of Sauvignon Blanc from a sixth generation family domaine in the heart of Bué. The Salmon family farms limestone rich terres blanches and caillottes soils that define the most refined Sancerre styles. These chalky slopes, coupled with cool nights and long, gentle ripening, give the wine its crystalline acidity, lifted aromatics and that unmistakable flinty edge that only true Sancerre can deliver. Christian and his son use a restrained, traditional approach: hand harvesting, gentle pressing, cool fermentations in stainless steel and extended fine lees ageing to bring subtle texture while preserving the wine’s electric precision.

The nose is bright and finely etched, offering citrus blossom, lime zest and white grapefruit alongside green apple, gooseberry, white peach and a subtle hint of wild herbs. Beneath the fruit sits a clear sense of place: struck flint, chalk dust, cool wet stone and a whisper of sea breeze. As the wine opens, delicate notes of elderflower, fennel frond and crushed limestone expand its aromatic range without losing purity.

The palate moves with remarkable clarity and drive. Citrus and orchard fruit sweep across a lean, chalk edged structure, guided by crisp, mouthwatering acidity. Flavours of lemon, grapefruit, green apple, white nectarine and subtle passionfruit unfold in clean, precise layers. The texture is silky but taut, shaped by time on lees rather than oak. The finish is long, refreshing and quietly savoury, marked by minerality, citrus zest and a faint saline snap. It will develop gracefully over the next three to five years, gaining soft honeyed and smoky complexity.

This is a natural partner for seafood and fresh, vibrant dishes: oysters, mussels, sashimi, grilled fish with lemon, goat cheese, asparagus, spring vegetables, ceviche, chicken salads, sushi and herb driven pasta. Serve well chilled to highlight its tension and mineral purity.