Lucien Crochet, Les Calcaires, Sancerre, Loire, France, 2017

Gilles and Laurence Crochet have been running this pioneering domaine since 1983. Gilles' two grandfathers Lucien Picard and André Crochet merged their two businesses back in the 1950s and were one of the first estates to sell their wines to restaurants in Paris. Before taking on the management of the domaine, Gilles spent six years making wine in Burgundy to broaden his knowledge. The Les Calcaires hails from a series of plots on their 35 hectares of vineyards ranging from 240-280 metres above sea level and which feature 'Caillottes' and 'Griottes' limestone soils. Organic fertilisers have been used since 1989.JB: Attractive vibrant fruit, fresh, finesse and complexity. Lovely wine - very clean and precise.RG: Slightly sweaty rather reductive Sauvignon that expands on the mid palate but concludes with a linear, slightly sherbetty finish.CK: Brilliant energy and aromatics here, massive focus and grip, acid precision too. A young wine set up for the cellar.