2019 SANCERRE, Monoparcelle 469, Riffault. Loire Valley

As described by George Turner on the BBR website (UK agents for Riffault):
“Stéphane Riffault – son of Claude Riffault – is now at the helm of this leading Sancerre estate. Stéphane studied and worked in Burgundy; his wines reveal an approach focused on preserving minerality and purity, alongside the judicious use of oak. The estate is based around the village of Sury-en-Vaux, with Stéphane working 33 different parcels in eight different lieu-dits (vineyard sites) spread across four villages. In total, the sites span 13.5 hectares, with all the vineyards biodynamically certified. Most of the domaine’s holdings are planted on soft limestone soil called terres blanches, with some parcels on caillottes and silex soils. The monoparcel 469 is from a single, southeast-facing parcel in the Les Sentiers lieu-dit from 52-year-old-vines root in very shallow Kimmeridgian chalky marls, that contain rich layers of seashells soils.”

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“From a single, southeast-facing 0.35-hectare parcel in the lieu-dit Les Sentiers, where 52-year-old-vines root in very shallow (50 centimeters) Kimmeridgian soils, the 2019 Sancerre Monoparcelle 469 displays a fabulously complex, pure and terroir-driven bouquet of iodine and crushed limestones with fresh lemon and stony notes that I find highly exciting. Full-bodied, elegant and refined on the palate, with mealy tannins and lingering salinity and grip, this is a still extremely young but exciting Sancerre with finely grippy tannins. The 2019 was vinified for 18 months in larger oak vats.” Stephan Reinhardt, The Wine Advocate