2023 DOMAINE IDIART LES VALLONS D’OR SANCERRE 750ML

2023 DOMAINE IDIART LES VALLONS D’OR SANCERRE 750ML

2023 DOMAINE IDIART LES VALLONS D’OR SANCERRE 750ML From the heart of Sancerre comes this modern expression of the historical grape variety on a chalk terroir.  This intensely aromatic selection of 100% Sauvignon Blanc is easy to drink, boasting a citrus and grapefruit note, with mint and peach flavors, finishing with a crisp yet long backend.  Enjoy this Sancerre with raw fish, poultry, asian and spring salads.

Sancerre is the benchmark for Sauvignon Blanc. Nothing compares and mostly everything other Sauvignon Blanc falls short. It is one of the most unique terroirs in the world, and is known for its intense aromatics, grapefruit and lime flavors, and its chalky, flinty minerality. It is the ultimate seafood wine, and if you love white wines with complexity, finesse, and layering, Sancerre is right there with white burgundy as the holy grail. They are incredible wines, but are getting more and more expensive every year.

That’s why when we received a sample of today’s wine from our good friend Nicolas Idiart, we were blown away. Nicolas is a “wine guy”, with unmatched passion and enthusiasm for not only wine but for business. I met Nicolas Idiart many years ago. He is one of the most passionate lovers of great wine that I know. His knowledge and his experience are superb. He is a third generation wine maker. Both his father and Grandfather made wine in Bordeaux which is where he is from. He studied winemaking at the prestigious wine school, the University of Bordeaux and graduated at the extremely young age of 19. He then worked for one of the most famous Bordeaux négociants spending many years in the US and has a great understanding of our palates. His passion was always to make great wine. He had a look at Bordeaux and the amount of money it would have costed him to buy the correct vineyards to make great wine was prohibitive and quality to Nicolas was the most important thing. He settled in Southern France, land of some of the greatest wines in the world.

He has imported just for us, a new project he has been working on. 2023 Domaine Idiart “Les Vallons d’Or” Sancerre is a “supercharged” Sancerre, and for the money, I would put it in the ring with houses like Domaine Vacheron ($120 a bottle), Pascal Cotat ($80), Louis Benjamin’s “Dagueneau” (95+ Parker, $100+ a bottle), and even the California powerhouses Merry Edwards and Peter Michael’s l’Apres Midi. These are all wines that are at least triple the price of Nicolas’ Sancerre and I would proudly stand behind it in a blind tasting with the aforementioned bottlings. Bright, citrusy, with richness and roundness that even lovers of California Chardonnay will fawn over. Only 25 Cases imported to the US, with only 150 produced. This is liquid gold, and fruit caviar to be enjoyed year round. A perfect wine for the upcoming holidays.