Fournier Sancerre Rouge Les Belles Vignes 2019, Sancerre, Loire Valley, France

Sancerre is a picturesque medieval village perched on a hilltop overlooking the Loire River. Thanks to their unique terroirs, the Sancerre wines are now renowned and sought-after worldwide. Domaine Fournier Père et Fils was a first-hand witness of the creation of the appellation in 1936 and is now one of its most active ambassadors and torchbearers. Since 1926, the estate has been nestled in the wine-growing hamlet of Chaudoux, at the heart of the Sancerre. Selected from a dozen parcels spread over the Terres Blanches and Caillottes terroirs, the cuvée ‘Les Belles Vignes’ rouge reveals all the capacity of the Pinot Noir grape variety on the best Sancerre terroirs. The vines are planted on steep slopes with multiple exposures giving the maximum complexity to Les Belles Vignes. Les Belles Vignes Rouge comes from a rigorous selection where only the best grapes are kept. The ‘whole bunch’ vinification is done after a 1week ‘cold maceration’ to extract the color and the softest tannins. The ‘alcoholic’ and ‘malolactic’ fermentations are made in tanks. The best Pinot Noir are then aged in Burgundy oak barrels. The wine is carefully aged before its bottling 12 to 18 months after the harvest. Ruby-garnet color, the aromas of morello cherries with brandy and leather develop on the first nose. The first sensation proudly exhibits its red fruit aromatic range. The palate is charming, leaning on soft tannins, enhanced by raspberry and fresh blackberry aromas.