2015 Domaine du Nozay Sancerre is sold out.

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2015 Domaine du Nozay Sancerre 750 ml

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  • Curated by unrivaled experts
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  • Temperature controlled shipping options
  • Get credited back if a wine fails to impress

Time Travel and “Terres Blanches”

A canopied, tree-lined road connects Domaine du Nozay to the small village of Sainte Gemme-en-Sancerrois (population 400). Emerging from the leafy tunnel, we felt time move backwards. The original 17th century château still stands in pristine condition, ringed by sloping vineyards and quaint storehouses.

The estate has belonged to the de Benoist family since the end of the 19th century, but it was revolutionized in 1970, when le Baron Philippe de Benoist and his wife, Marie-Hélène, moved in. Determined to produce a “vignoble d’exception,” the couple planted Sauvignon Blanc and slowly expanded their holdings to the current 37 acres.

Le Baron was no fool. He knew that the estate’s soils were composed of the famed “terres blanches,” or Kimmeridgian marl. The chalky, clay soil, which turns white during droughts, produces deep-fruited, direct wines with crisp acidity and tremendous aging potential. In the incredible 2015 growing season, Philippe’s son, Cyril, now winemaker at Nozay, brought forth all that the “terres blanches” had to offer, and more.

Things got off to an epic start as a warm, dry spring gave way to a hot and sunny summer, setting up 2015 in Sancerre to be one of the finest vintages in recent memory. From Amigny to Chavignol, it was smooth sailing clear through the end of August, without any of the usual hurdles (hail, mildew, etc.) the Sancerrois face in more challenging years.

By the time the call to harvest came at the beginning of September — one of the earliest on record — the Sauvignon grapes planted in the limestone hillsides at Domaine du Nozay had ripened to perfect maturity. Fruit quality was off the charts, and while many made good wine in 2015, the vintage allowed elite winemakers like Cyril de Benoist to shine.

Britain’s high-brow Decanter Magazine called the 2015 Domaine du Nozay a wine with “real substance and breadth,” and awarded it 94 points. Tasted at the château on our visit this past summer, the Nozay was pale yellow/green in color, with gold reflections. The nose showed beautiful ripe grapefruit, accented by flinty, limestone character. Yellow peach, rose, litchi, and lemon on the palate, with the mouthwatering concentration and riveting, mineral-driven acidity that screams top Sancerre. Long and bright on the finish with enough structure to age gracefully for a decade or more.

94 points makes the 2015 Domaine du Nozay the highest-rated Sancerre ever offered on WineAccess. This is the ONLY allocation headed stateside, and it’s all earmarked for our members. 40 cases are up for grabs. Just $19.99, direct from the cellars in Sancerre.