2024 Fournier Les Belles Vignes Sancerre Blanc, Loire Valley

Fournier Les Belles Vignes Sancerre Blanc from the Loire Valley is a beautifully precise and expressive Sauvignon Blanc that captures the essence of Sancerre’s famed limestone terroir. Produced by Domaine Fournier Père et Fils, one of the region’s most respected family estates, this wine represents both tradition and modern craftsmanship — a benchmark Loire white that delivers purity, texture and mineral clarity in perfect balance.

The Fournier family farms vineyards across several of Sancerre’s best subregions, where chalk, flint and clay-limestone soils combine to create Sauvignon Blanc of remarkable depth and tension. The fruit for Les Belles Vignes comes from parcels averaging more than 25 years of age, harvested at optimal ripeness to ensure both aromatic intensity and freshness. The grapes are gently pressed, fermented at cool temperatures in stainless steel, and aged on fine lees for several months to enhance mouthfeel and complexity without any oak influence.

In the glass it shines pale straw with green hues. The aroma is vibrant and pure, offering lime zest, gooseberry and passionfruit with delicate notes of white flowers, wet stone and flint. The palate is crisp yet layered, with flavours of citrus, green apple and mineral framed by taut acidity and a silky, lingering finish. Its hallmark balance of fruit and minerality makes it both invigorating and refined — classic Sancerre through and through.

It pairs perfectly with oysters, grilled white fish, goat cheese, or fresh salads with herbs and citrus dressing. It also complements sushi, shellfish and light pasta dishes. Delicious in its youth for its zesty precision, it will develop subtle honeyed and smoky nuances over five to seven years of careful cellaring.