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Domaine Lucien Crochet may be the top grower in the Sancerre village of Buรฉ. That may not sound like much. How many of us obsess over the villages of Sancerre? How many can we even name? Chavignol, maybe, given its kimmeridgian limestone, superstar growers (the Cotats, Boulay and Vatan), and famously steep vineyards with memorable names (like 'Les Monts Damnรฉs' or 'The Damned Mountains').
But Buรฉ? Hardly a household name, despite its incredible terroir. Gently rolling hills of Griottes (Oxfordian limestone clay) and Caillotes (limestone gravels) make wines that have all the depth of minerality and vibrant acidity of a great Chavignol, but that also manage to drink younger.
How good are the wines of Domaine Lucien Crochet? When Eric Asimov did a Wines of the Times column on Sancerre a dozen years ago, Crochet's was his top pick. It even beat out the superstar Cotats. We think Crochet has only gone from strength to strength since then. And Chris Kissack, one of the best writers on the Loire Valley, says the Domaine is so good it's mere "presence... in the village... is clear testimony to the quality and potential of Buรฉโs vineyards and wines." Crochet is the benchmark.
What importer Rosenthal Wine Merchant has to say about this wine...
From grapes harvested from several parcels which include a mix of stones and marne with south-southeast exposure. After a manual harvest, the grapes are pressed and the fermentation proceeds for approximately 30 days. Both remontage and pigeage are done but the degree to which they are practiced depends on the structure of each vintage. Sixty percent of this cuvรฉe is aged in barrel and 40% in stainless steel for one year. The wine is then assembled and, for an additional eight months, is aged in stainless steel before being bottled approximately two years after harvest.
Details
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Grape Variety
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Vintage
2023
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Size
750ml
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Farming Practice
Sustainable
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Style
Earthy , Fruity
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Sweetness
Dry
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Body
Light Bodied