2020 Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Les Romains, Loire Valley

Biodynamic. Another Mellot cuvée from outside of La Moussière, the lieu-dit of Les Romains is named after the Roman road that led down to the Loire River crossing. It lies almost directly south of the town, over the fault line marking a vein of flint. While these soils may suggest a strong resemblance to the nearby terroir in Pouilly-Fumé, the vines don’t have to dig deep before hitting pure limestone. The vineyard covers 1.9 hectares and is planted to a density of 9,000 vines per hectare. Vacheron and Gitton Père also tend vines in this great vineyard. In general terms, from Les Romains you get racier acidity and more lime and citrus than the Mellot cuvées from La Moussière.
 
Like all Mellot’s fruit, the grapes were hand-picked. Fermentation took place in 13-hectolitre tronconique casks and the wine was aged on fine lees for 12 months. It’s a striking, super-charged Sancerre, galloping with pristine and succulent white orchard fruit. Chalky textures entwine with limpid mineral freshness and it finishes with a note of grapefruit, and exceptional focus and length.