Claude Riffault - La Noue Sancerre Rouge 2019
Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $35.99
| Producer | Claude Riffault |
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| Country | France |
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| Region | Loire Valley |
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| Subregion | Sancerre |
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| Varietal | Pinot Noir |
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| Vintage | 2019 |
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| Sku | 17170 |
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| Size | 750ml |
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Claude Riffault Sancerre Rouge La Noue 2019
Sale $35.99 – Beats Best US Price Online!!!
93 pts Vinous
We rarely encounter red wine from Sancerre seeing as it only accounts for 10-12% of the wine produced in the region, with Sauvignon Blanc making up the rest (along with a smidge of rose). Yet prior to the scourge of phylloxera in the 1860s, the vineyards were mostly Pinot Noir and Gamay.
Which makes sense when you look at the map. Sancerre is an outlier of the Loire region, laying on its easternmost edge. As Rebecca Gibb of Vinous explains: “It is the same distance from Sancerre to Tours as it is to Beaune, the heart of the Côte d’Or. Nestled high above the big bend of the Loire River, the people of Sancerre have often looked east rather than west, both politically and viticulturally; when it comes to learning about vines and wines, Beaune is the favourite place for budding winemakers to study rather than the quintessential Loire Valley town of Amboise. There are commonalities in climate. Sancerre and Dijon sit on the same latitude: 47.3. When it comes to growing season temperatures and the various ways they can be measured, there are only marginal differences.”
And Sancerre shares the same chalky limestone soil of Chablis and the Cote-d’Or, further separating it from the Loire region we typically associate the region with.
Given that top Burgundy bottlings sell for ridiculous prices, why don’t we see more Pinot Noir? Simple… Sauvignon Blanc is easier to grow, has higher yields, is easier to vinify and sells quicker. $$$.
For most producers, then, it is a passion project. I like their passion. I like it even more when I can get Pinot Noir like this for a fraction of what I’d pay for a Burgundy of similar quality!
Young winemaker Stephane Riffault makes full use of his Burgundy training with Olivier Leflaive (among others). Working with 30-60 year old, organically farmed vines, Stephane hand-harvests the grapes before naturally fermenting in tank. Aging occurs in tank and large, neutral oak demi-muids to preserve the delicate and haunting aromas. Red cherries and raspberries mix with mineral notes with a hint of anise on the elegant finish.
Vinous Media: 93 Points
“An elegant and refined expression. The wine shows a red cherry, lightly floral character. There’s a wonderful chalky texture and tannic structure that coats the palate and provides. It’s an attractive and elegant style with a lovely line of tension that draws this out on the finish." Vinous
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