Sancerre Pascal Jolivet 2023

Description

Pascal Jolivet was founded in 1987 and is one of the most dynamic domaines in France’s Loire Valley. Based in Sancerre, the domaine owns 70 hectares of vineyards spread across the appellations of Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé. The domaine supplements the estate holdings with additional fruit sourced from long-term contract growers some of the prime sites of the region including ‘Les Caillottes’, ‘Le Chêne Marchand’ and ‘Le Clos du Roy’. Pascal shares his philosophy with winemaker, Valentina Buoso: to work in harmony with nature to produce wines with purity of fruit, a linear character and minerality, allowing a natural expression of the vineyard to give the wines a sense of place.

Sancerre is situated 200km south of Paris at an altitude of between 200-400m. Jolivet own 42 hectares of vineyard in Sancerre, close to the villages of Bué, Verdigny and Ste Gemme. Located close to the Loire River and surrounded by forest creates a relatively mild micro climate for the vineyards. 50% of the grapes come from ‘Les Caillottes’ vineyard grown on chalky soil, in Bué-en-Sancerre, 30% from ‘Les Terres Blanches’, the highest hill in the west on calcareous-clay soils, and 20% from the east limestone and flint soils. The vines are trained using the vertical shoot positioning system.

After harvest, the grapes are gently pressed. The juice is then fermented in stainless steel using natural yeasts, at 16°C for 25 days. The grapes from each parcel are fermented separately. After fermentation, the wine spends a further two months maturing in stainless steel before bottling. A wine of style marked by richness, elegance and smoothness. Lifted aromas of flint, gooseberry and vibrant citrus zest. Mouthwatering freshness and pure fruit expression.