Pascal Jolivet, Sancerre Blanc, Loire, France, 2020

The 2020 vintage is the best for a decade, according to Pascal Jolivet - early picked, with a good generosity and ripeness of fruit. In this vintage, Jolivet decided to make less single-vineyard wine in order to further improve the quality of the Sancerre Blanc. The blend is made from vines grown on limestone, limestone clay and flint, with parcels vinified separately before blending. When you taste this next to the Pouilly-Fumé (now labelled Blanc-Fumé), it's more restrained in character, more linear. Lemon citrus, mouthwatering acidity, quite textured, almost chalky. Fresh and mineral, this is a gastronomic interpretation of Sauvignon Blanc that would be delicious with shellfish, sushi or white fish.