2010 in Sancerre

Montigny nestling beneath the vines

We reached Sancerre early this afternoon in our gallop around the Loire trying to get a flavour of the 2010 vintage. Rain is forecast for tomorrow, so there was a lot of activity in the vineyard today with people trying to get in a much as possible before tomorrow's predicted rain even if it is a Sunday.

We first stopped to look at some vineyards about Montigny, which is at the western extremity of the appellation. My initial impression (and it is very much an initial impression) is that the fruit is more fragile and delicate than last year. Of course the fruit last year was exceptionally clean, except for hail damage in some of the communes close to Sancerre itself, as it was in 2008.

However tasting 2010 juice with Thibault Roger (Jean-Max Roger) and at Domaine Fouassier with Paul and Benoît Fouassier all the samples were clean and precise as they have been so far throughout the Loire.

Sauvignon Blanc - good grapes at Montigny

Montigny - less good grapes