2022 Vacheron Sancerre ‘Le Paradis’

Aromas of orange and lemon zest, wildflowers. Vibrant and precise, with a nervous tension throughout. Stone fruit, sea-salt, more citrus. Hand-harvested. Fermented on indigenous yeasts in large, upright wooden fermentation tanks (from 25-36HL). Racked, then aged for one year in same wooden tank. Unfiltered.

With cellars located in the charming, hilltop town of Sancerre, Jean-Laurent and Jean-Dominique Vacheron have vineyards in mainly the eastern part of Sancerre on hard, flinty soils as well as smaller holding on softer limestone and clay soils. Their “village” Sancerre bottling draws from both terroirs to create a subtle, mineral and completely satisfying wine. One of the few estates in Sancerre to harvest entirely by hand this wine is fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged in tank for at least 4 months before bottling.

Natural winemaking at Domaine Vacheron is second nature. Taking care of the soil, and in turn the vine, is of the utmost importance to the family. Vines have been cared for biodynamically since the early 2000s, and the estate is certified in both organic and biodynamic practices. No synthetic materials whatsoever are used in the vineyards; the family makes its own organic compost. Yields are naturally low.Harvest is exclusively by hand. Grapes are fermented on indigenous yeasts in a combination of stainless-steel or cement tanks and wooden, open-top fermenters. Wines are aged either in large oak cask or French oak barrels, depending on the cru and the vintage, and are bottled unfiltered, according to the lunar cycle.