Domaine Roc de l'Abbaye L'Antique Sancerre 2023

Domaine Roc de l'Abbaye L'Antique Sancerre

Region: Loire, France

Vintage: 2023

Bottle size: 75cl

Grape: Sauvignon Blanc

ABV: 13%

The Antique Sancerre displays intense notes of gooseberry, yellow plum and hay. The palate is bright with vibrant fruit balanced by smooth, oily texture with a long and fresh finish.

The fruit for this wine comes from 36-year-old vines in ‘Les Beltins’ on the finest hillsides of the Ménétréol-sous-Sancerre commune. The vines are south-facing and planted on soils comprised of white and black flint, producing grapes with a unique mineral flint character and intense salinity. The vineyards achieved sustainable certification in April 2022 and are meticulously managed.

The grapes were hand harvested and then gently pressed upon arrival at the winery using a pneumatic press to yield a very clear juice. Fermentation took place in stainless-steel tanks at controlled temperatures of 16-18°C. 5-10% of the blend was aged in used oak 228-litre barrels to add further richness and texture to the wine.

Located on the eastern side of Sancerre, Domaine Roc de l’Abbaye by Florian Mollet is one of few estates in the appellation to be planted entirely on flint soils. This soil, known as ‘silex’, represents just 15% of the Sancerre appellation and is coveted for its geological make-up, which produces wines with expressive gunflint aromas and a taut character. The history of the estate began in 15th century when the nearby Abbey identified four hectares of silex soil and named it Domaine du Clos du Roc. These four hectares became part of the domaine in 1973 through the marriage of Jean-Paul Mollet and Rosie-Marie Maudry, who combined their family estates to create Domaine Roc de L’Abbaye.

https://www.rocdelabbaye.com