2019 Vincent Gaudry ‘Mélodie de Vieilles Vignes’ Sancerre Loire Valley

Opulent, almost tropical nose with gentle notes of sage, anise and kefir leaves. Much more focused and vibrant on the palate than the nose was suggesting. Acidity is on point from the start with a tension and saltiness as soon as the wine touches the lips, then develops more citrus than tropical, especially pink grapefruit, thyme, asian pear that really lingers on the acidity. It is not a light wine, there is weight from the concentration of the vintage, but there is no lack of vibrancy or freshness. Really the old vines on limestone are doing their job!

Domaine Vincent Gaudry, located in Sury-en-Vaux, has been organic and Biodynamic certified beginning in 1993. The 2019 “Melodie des Vieilles Vignes” is from 50-plus year-old vines on clay/limestone soils, and is fermented naturally with wild yeasts. This is an outstanding Sancerre showing elegant aromas of ripe pear, quince, citrus and lime-flower, really quite lovely. The palate is fresh and lively with dried pear, stone and herbal flavors, very elegant. The stone and subtle fruit flavors continue in the refreshing finish making this a superb food wine with anything from oysters to grilled fish and chicken in sauce.

Vincent Gaudry has been a pioneer and a trailblazer in the region for pursuing his own unique brand of winemaking, becoming the first in the region to be certified Biodynamic in 2004. His production reflects his deeply held beliefs about the power of the earth and the expression of each of the region’s unique terroirs. His domaine covers 9 hectares of vineyards divided among the three main soils: clay-limestone or marl (terres blanches), flint (silex) and stony, rubble-like limestone that come from weathered Kimmeridgian (caillottes). A small plot of 90 year-old vines planted on marl allows Gaudry to work via “massale selection.” His methods result in naturally modest yields, keeping the plants healthy, reducing his footprint in the vineyard and producing wines which are naturally imbued with density and volume on the palate and which preserve the stony minerality for which Sancerre is regarded worldwide.