Sancerre Blanc, Domaine Merlin Cherrier

Thierry works according to the principles of sustainable agriculture known in French as ‘la Lutte Raisonnée’. He has grassed the plots which sit on richer, heavier soils, and he
keeps yields down and quality high by debudding in spring and crop-thinning in summer. For the past five years he has been deleafing his Sauvignon Blanc vines in order to allow the wind and sun access to the bunches, which results in thicker, more resistant skins and therefore more flavour. The results are testament to this practice, in ever finer, more intensely aromatic whites. The vineyard in Bué is spread across hard and soft limestone terroir, with pockets of marl, resulting in wines with excellent structure balanced by wonderful aromatics.

The grapes were gently pressed in a pneumatic press and cold settled. Fermentation took place parcel by parcel, at controlled temperatures in stainless steel and enamelled steel vats. The yeast was carefully selected for each vat and the pressed wine was vinified separately, allowing it to go through malolactic conversion, which added layers of depth and complexity. The wine from each parcel was matured on its fine lees, before blending in the following spring.

Domaine Merlin Cherrier has been under the watchful eye of Thierry Merlin-Cherrier for five decades who has cultivated the 14-hectare family estate of premium vineyard sites in and around the commune of Bué in Sancerre. His domain includes a slice of the revered Garennes plot and one hectare in the renowned Chêne Marchand vineyard. Planted predominantly with Sauvignon Blanc and two hectares of Pinot Noir, the estate has been cultivated sustainably for over 30 years, and is HVE certified. Biodiversity on the estate is encouraged and each plot received bespoke cultivation according to the characteristics of the terroir. In 2022, Thierry handed over the reins to his youngest daughter Agathe, who under the guidance of Thierry is slowly adding her own signature style and feminine touch to the wines. The wines show great Bué typicity, marrying good structure with an aromatic and deliciously, tangy ripe blackcurrant character