2019 Domaine Claude et Clement Roblin Les Rossignols Sancerre 750 ml

There’s a reason you'll rarely see this bottle on any other shelves in the US. Domaine Claude et Clément Roblin’s tiny-production wines are normally sold directly from the cellar into the hands of those lucky enough to walk their beautiful clay and limestone grounds—so these wines rarely, if ever, make it out of the Loire Valley. This is the kind of under-the-radar gem that we wake up every morning hoping to find, and the decision to lock in an allocation was one of the easiest we’ve made all month. 

Claude Roblin has worked this estate in Menetou-Râtel for more than 30 years, tending to both the vines and the Charolais bovine that grace the rolling hillsides, and is now joined by his son, Clément. A sip reveals their luminous 2019 Les Rossignols to be as classic and irresistible as Sancerre gets—a delicious reminder of why this region is a global benchmark for Sauvignon Blanc. 

With layers of lemon peel and grapefruit that mingle with crushed limestone minerality and hints of chamomile, this vibrant and aromatic Sancerre is lifted by the bright acidity that characterizes the 2019 vintage. It brilliantly evokes the crisp breezes and pristine landscape that grace the iconic terroir of the Loire Valley. 

2019 was a superb year for Sancerre, marked by slow growth in the cold spring, followed by a hot and dry summer that saw sweltering conditions well into September. Luckily, producers also saw cool overnight temperatures that softened the harshness of the day's heat and preserved the grapes' striking acidity. The yields were low, but the fruit was pristine in quality, evoking an effortless freshness that harmonizes with that naturally high acidity, resulting in a vintage that has had producers and our members alike singing its praises. 

Nearly every Sancerre from the fantastic 2019 vintage that we’ve offered has sold out faster than we can keep track of. Determined to raise the bar for our next offer, we tasted dozens of Sancerres searching for the newest member-favorite. In the end, we gave our seal of approval to only one.

The 2019 Domaine Claude et Clément Roblin Les Rossignols Sancerre is a brilliant Sauvignon Blanc, made even more incredible at today’s remarkable price. Handcrafted in minuscule quantities on a small, family-owned estate, we only came across this wine after completing an exhaustive search of the region. That’s why, within moments of tasting it, we claimed an allocation of this pure, focused Sancerre for Wine Access members. 

We’re still dreaming of flying back to France and feeling a refreshing breeze cut through the Loire Valley’s summer heat. Until then, we’re keeping this distinctive Sancerre chilled and waiting, ready to transport us any time we’re in the mood.