Gérard Boulay Sancerre Chavignol 2022

Alcohol: 12.5%

Grape(s): Sauvignon Blanc

Localization: Chavignol, Loire Valley, France

Tasting Notes: Tiny yields have given this incredible wine concentration while maintaining outstanding balance and energy; it's among the best vintages in decades. The 2021 Gerard Boulay Chavignol Sancerre is a blend of 45 years old vines. The vines are grown on Kimmeridgian slopes, similar to Chablis's soils. The nose is mineral-driven, with lime, tangerine, and Bosc pear. The palate delivers the same with an addition of cinnamon baked apple and a zesty, mineral finish. It has intense, mouthwatering acidity that can be enjoyed now or can age for many years. This is one of our favorite Sauvignon Blancs bars, none!

The Domain: One of Chavignol's most historic vineyards, Boulay's parcel lies within the original Clos of the vineyard, established by the monks of Beaujeu in the Middle Ages. The walls of the Clos are no longer standing as they were originally built from clay and hay, and did not withstand the test of time. Boulay farms a 0.75 hectares plot of 30- to 60-year-old vines where the soils are pebbly, lime-rich, and strewn with fossils. Along with the 60% gradient for much of the vineyard, the rocky soils make this parcel very difficult to farm. Clos de Beaujeu is the source of some of Boulay's deepest, most structured wines and savory, spicy examples of Chavignol that are built to last.