LE PRE VAUJOUR, SANCERE

LOIRE VALLEY, FRANCE 2018

We pride ourselves on being able to offer some of the most highly coveted and age-worthy wines available, but every so often we come across a wine that’s not only delicious, but also happens to be exactly what we want to drink right now during these final dog days of summer. Today’s 2018 Le Pré Vaujour is a lively Sancerre from petit négociant Maison Foucher, an estate founded in 1921 to craft Loire Valley wines at exceptional value. In 2009, Jean Mounard joined the Maison Foucher team, bringing with him years of experience gained at a rare wines brokerage business in Paris that specialized in the world’s most iconic wine estates, such as DRC, Mouton-Rothschild, and Leflaive. Under his guidance, Maison Foucher has been able to form lasting relationships with growers in Sancerre and throughout the Loire Valley to further elevate the quality of their wines. With a focus on small batch wines from hand-selected plots in Sancerre, today’s wine is an exceptional value indeed: at an unprecedented 33% off, it has a hard-to-beat price tag that calls for stocking up.   
 

The 2018 vintage in the Loire Valley was much needed after the two challenging previous vintages. 2018 saw “sun, no rain, and high temperatures that accelerated ripening” according to Bloomberg; many producers harvested early to avoid overripe fruit. Producers were optimistic following harvest, and while the majority of 2018 wines are just being released, many seem to live up to expectation. Of course, it’s the Kimmeridgian soils that are paramount to the classic Sancerre style—while Sauvignon Blanc is produced in large quantity the world over, Sancerre arguably sets the bar for what Sauvignon Blanc can achieve stylistically. 
 

I often find myself surprised by Sancerre’s complexity-to-price tag ratio. In the mood for a crisp white for a summer gathering? This wine fits the bill but will overdeliver in terms of complexity and structure; by the time you’ve appreciated all the nuances, your glass will need a refill. Fans of Sauvignon Blanc will appreciate its bright fruitiness and lively acidity, but it has a rounder texture, classic mineral backbone, and less intense grapefruit citrus than its New Zealand counterparts. The Pré Vaujour can absolutely be enjoyed now, but a couple years of patience will reward with a softened texture and a slightly more complex bouquet. For one week only we are offering this crowd-pleasing wine at a Concierge discounted rate, and with further discounts on 6+ and 12+ bottles you can enjoy this wine at below $20 per bottle. It’s a deal not to be missed!