2019 Domaine Dominique et Janine Crochet Cuvee Prestige Sancerre 750 ml

Sancerre is the most famous appellation for Sauvignon Blanc in the world—but not all Sancerre is created equal. The richest, most finely structured and refined versions are grown in three villages perched just a few kilometers apart—Verdigny, Bué, and Chavignol—where steep hillside plantings are strewn with chunks of precious limestone.

Dominique et Janine Crochet’s Sancerre Cuvée Prestige is one of the finest from Bué. Only bottled a few times per decade, the 2019 puts a star vintner and an outstanding vintage on display.

Winemaker Teddy Crochet was a celebrated rugby star before returning to his family’s estate as an eager apprentice to his dad, Paul. Sadly, Paul passed suddenly a decade ago, so Teddy did what is expected of a young winegrower: He hung up his cleats, donned oversized blue overalls, and got to work. He now turns out brilliant whites that stand as some of the best in the Loire.

2019 was astounding in Sancerre, marked by a chilly spring with slow growth, followed by a hot and dry summer that resulted in grapes of superb ripeness and concentration. This bottling shows off the extraordinarily richness and structure of the year, but it also has a fabulously chiseled acidity, making for a combination of out-of-the-gate pleasure and the capability to develop in the cellar for a few years. 

As is tradition in great vintages, rather than allotting every Sauvignon bunch to Sancerre Blanc, Crochet plucked the most pristine grapes from the sorting table and fermented them separately in stainless-steel tanks. Much of this minuscule bottling, aptly named Prestige, is snapped up by Sancerre locals—but now you have the chance to drink it, too.