2019 Domaine Sauger Cheverny Tradition Blanc Loire 750 ml

We go to France with a list of must-visit wineries and must-get wines—but our greatest discoveries are often made in between appointments, at side-street bistros.

That’s where we discovered an aromatic, succulent white that just about every sommelier we know in the States would kill to put on their wine list.

After the night of our find, it took 16 months to secure this bottle. We have NEVER had the chance to offer a Cheverny Blanc at Wine Access—they’re just too hard to get in the US, as most of them get snapped up by Parisian bistros like the one where we discovered it.

Mostly Sauvignon Blanc, with a hearty splash (20%) of Chardonnay, this wonderfully expressive white brings together the best characteristics of Burgundy and the Loire—and we’re thrilled to have broken through with an allocation.

It comes from the sweet spot of Cheverny, in between the Loire and Cher rivers, where well-drained sandy soils encourage deep roots, and the old vines reward the Saugers with beautiful flavor and fantastic complexity that get perfectly captured in the bottle. That means fermenting each variety separately, then aging the wine in stainless steel to preserve the fresh-fruit character.

The wines of Cheverny have long been staples of Parisian restaurants for their bright, charming palates and easy drinkability. Sauger’s is one of the best we’ve tried from the region, a tribute to the family’s five generations who have built their domaine into one of the standouts in the central Loire.

A rarely encountered style of Loire white, the 2019 Tradition Blanc is the perfect bistro bottle—even if that bistro is your kitchen table.