This rare bottling comes from just 0.40 hectares of 70-year-old vines in the Comtesse lieu-dit at the chalky epicentre of Les Monts-Damnés. For hundreds of years or more, this vineyard has been considered by locals to be the finest single terroir of Chavignol. In his Le Vignoble de Chavignol, Thibaut Boulay reminds us that at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1878, Comtesse was already considered a true star of the Sancerrois, its wines served on the most renowned tables of northern France. As another marker of its historical reverence, the Comtesse parcel was only grafted after 1945; before that, it remained the last ungrafted white vineyard in France, as La Romanée-Conti was for red grapes. The soil composition is pure Kimmeridgian limestone and consists of a miserly 30- to 40-centimetre layer of topsoil over solid limestone bedrock. This brings intense minerality and warmth as the rocky soil absorbs the sun’s heat and re-radiates it at night, yet it is also a cooler, less exposed place. It’s therefore a site that always produces fully ripe fruit and intense freshness while also something finer and more restrained than a typical Monts-Damnés—hence, the historical fame. This has the diamond-cut clarity allied to perfectly ripe fruit intensity that is a hallmark of this release—and there’s also something more elemental. Again, the sunny season has done nothing to blunt the razor-edge precision of this grower’s Sancerre. Marked by the soil rather than the sun, this wine often incorporates the best elements of all the vineyards above. It has a seductive texture and nectarine-like fruit, yet also thoroughbred restraint, great line, mineral clarity, and box-office chalky length. A Grand Cru in all but name, 20 years will not weary this astonishing young Sancerre.

Product Information: The Bouchot Pouilly Fume MCMLV is all about roundness with citrus aromas. The mouth is complex, intense, delivering elegant power at the end. Half of the wine underwent skin contact for several days while the rest was pressed directly into old (8 to 10 years) 500L barrels. Antoine Gouffier's dedication and respect for terroir is on full display in his Sauvignon Blancs from Pouilly-Fumé. His wines display a fruity, floral, and intense minerality. As a young vigneron at the helm of Domaine du Bouchot, his wines express a vibrant, elegant, balanced tension. Antoine is truly raising the bar in this appellation. Maker: In 2019, Antoine Gouffier purchased Domaine du Bouchot, from Rachel and Pascal Kerbiquet who had been running it as a family estate since 1987. As a Loire native himself, Antoine has a profound understanding and connection to the land, which lead him to farm the land organically. In 2009 Domaine du Bouchot was the first in the Pouilly-Fumé appellation to become certified organic, and fittingly Antoine was the one to finalised the biodynamic certification. Bouchot holds 10-hectares, which is mainly planted to Sauvignon Blanc, with a few vines of Chasselas, on the southwest side of the hill from the village of Saint-Andelain. The wines reflect the unmistakable character of each of the vineyards: the Kimmeridgian marl soil is of white clay, limestone, and fossilised oysters from ancient seabeds, and the Portlandian terroir (limestone with layered, small rocks) lend a flinty, mineral quality to the wines - the differentiating characteristics lending to a unique purity and clarity. Domaine du Bouchots wines are excellent representations of a sometimes-overlooked appellation and are vibrant, elegant, and balanced. Philosophy: Antoine believes in minimal intervention in his winemaking, using indigenous yeast and stainless steel for fermentation. He is also experimenting with amphorae. The wines are vinified without sulfur. The Domaine produces three different Pouilly-Fumé: Cuvée Terres Blanches from the Kimmeridgian marl soils, Cuvée Les Caillotes from Portlandian soils, and Cuvée 1955 from the oldest vines on the estate. All fruit is handpicked, the yeasts are indigenous and the wine is made with as little pumping as possible. Aged on its fine lees in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks, the wine is bottled in the spring after a very light filtration. Nose - Lavender, Lemon, Quince Seems at first like a subtle expression of sauvignon, with initial aromas of lavender and light lemony citrus fruit. Palate - Tropical Fruit, Gooseberry, Silky-Texture On the palate you discover a deep-set, complex array of citrus and yellow fruit, together with a whole heap of terroir-driven nuance. Finish - Roundness, Satisfying Grip, Taut A sense of roundness and completeness with a sense of satisfying grip that clasps the palate. Long, mineral finish with some phenolic tightening.

The 2019 vintage of Virginie de Valandraud Bordeaux Blanc from Chateau Valandraud in Bordeaux, France, is a true embodiment of elegance and finesse. This pale straw-colored wine immediately entices with its inviting aromas of white flowers, ripe citrus, and subtle notes of vanilla. On the palate, it reveals a perfect balance of bright acidity and creamy texture, with flavors of lemon, pear, and hints of toasted almonds. The finish is clean and refreshing, leaving a lingering impression of minerality. Crafted with a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon grapes, this wine showcases the terroir of Bordeaux, with a touch of modernity. Ideal as an aperitif or paired with seafood dishes, this Bordeaux Blanc is a must-try for any wine lover.

Château Guiraud is a large Sauternes property that is the only 1er Cru Classé, with the exception of its illustrious neighbour Château d`Yquem, that is located within the commune of Sauternes itself. Guiraud's 85 hectares of vineyards are located on one of the hills above the village of Sauternes. They are planted with 65% Sémillon and 35% Sauvignon Blanc. The grapes are harvested in "tries" and the juice is then fermented in oak barrels. The wine is then aged in oak casks (50% new) for 2 years. Guiraud is a very ambitious property with aspirations to produce a wine that will one day rival d`Yquem. The wines are astonishingly rich, especially in light of the high proportion of Sauvignon Blanc in the blend, and are undoubtedly amongst the finest wines being produced in Sauternes today.

After Yquem, Château Climens is regarded as the region's second best wine. Where Chateau d'Yquem is known for concentration and lusciousness, Climens strive for elegance, purity and freshness. For those looking to discover the best of Sauternes, this wine is a must.

Incredibly opulent and rich, Château d'Yquem is widely considered the greatest sweet wine in the world. Currently owned by LVMH, this prestigious Sauternes estate is at the very top of the appellations classification, designated 1er Cru Classé Supérieur. Château dYquems 110 ha of vineyards are planted to 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. The Grand Vin is produced from only fully botrytised fruit, carefully hand-harvested over successive passes by a team of highly skilled pickers. Yields are tiny, with each vine producing just one glass of wine. Fermentation takes place in 100% new oak barriques followed by up to 36 months maturation in oak. A wine of exceptional intensity and complexity, the best vintages of Château d'Yquem are capable of aging gracefully for well over 50 years.

Chateau Doisy Daëne is a deuxième Cru Classé estate of Sauternes located in the Barsac appellation of Bordeaux. Managed by renowned white wine specialist Denis Dubourdieu, the estates sweet Sauternes wine is a fresh lively style with crystalline fruit purity underpinned racy acidity. A fully botrytised blend of Semillon with a minor component of Sauvignon Blanc, the grapes are picked over successive tries and gentle pressed, before undergoing vinification and maturation in one third new French oak barriques for 10 months.