I'll answer the question straight away... No, this is not too good to be true. It is a ridiculous buy and an incredible deal. Without question, this was our runaway white wine hit from 2020. I initially brought the wine in last November. Our first 50 cases disappeared in a day. Sure, that was to be expected... I mean, it is Sancerre as low as $17.99. I figured people would jump on the value proposition. I didn't count on what happened next... demand for more just kept on coming. Mind you... this was November/December... not exactly white wine weather. And it continued throughout the winter. Ultimately we sold over 220 cases before the vintage ran out. I've never sold that much of a white wine. Period. Let alone at this price point!

The importer sent me a sample of the 2019. Considered a better vintage overall, 2019 did not disappoint by delivering an even better wine as an encore! Load up for the summer! 

Famille Thomas Les Creots Sancerre Blanc 2019

Regularly $29.99

Buy six or more pay $17.99 – save 40% - Beats Best US Price Online

All Else Sale $19.89 – save 33% 

It's back! The runaway hit of 2020 is back and as good as before. To my taste, it is even better. 2019 had warm days, like 2018, but the nights were cooler, resulting in higher natural acidity and a fresher, more vibrant wine. 

The Thomas family has been making wine in Sancerre since 1670! Under 13th generation winemaker, Julien, the domaine practices biodynamics, putting the emphasis on the vineyard, and allowing each plot’s unique soil type to shine through. Here, the vines are rooted in limestone… yeah, who cares, right? So much else going on… so let’s get right to the wine.

This is delicious and pretty serious Sancerre for the $. The nose is classic Sancerre – delicate notes of white flowers and fresh cut grass lead quickly to brighter aromas of gooseberries and grapefruit. The palate is “rich and broad”, meaning it really coats your tongue and the flavors are not shy, loaded with grapefruit, tangerine zest and green apples. Flinty mineral notes are abundant throughout and add balance to the fruit.

The richness comes from three sources – the soil, the yields and batonnage on the lees. Soil we touched on… the yields are as low as 40 hectoliters / hectare. The appellation allows for as much as 60 hl/ha. The lower yields mean the vines focus more energy on ripening the grapes, resulting in more intense, complex flavors. Anyone who has grown tomatoes knows all about this! And “batonnage on the lees”? The lees are the spent yeast cells leftover from fermentation. Leaving them in contact with the wine for 6-8 months, as the Thomas family does, adds richness and a creamy mouthfeel. “Botonnage” is the stirring of the wine to allow the lees to come into more contact with the juice. Put it all together and you have a wonderfully rich Sancerre!


Or reply. The wine is available now in Chapel Hill. Thursday, as ordered, in Hillsborough.