Kimmeridge and stainless steel. Flint and oak. The mental picture of Sancerre is mostly made of black currant leaves aromas. It is so much more. Different soils, different vinification, different impressions on nose and palate. We have tasted two diametrically different Sancerres from our visit to Henri Bourgeois. Two wines that melted our hearts (again).
The damned slope in Chavignol, Les Monts Damnés, brings by the hands of Henri Bourgeois a damned good wine. We thought the 2007 was on top at our 
visit in October 2013, but apparently we were not quite right. When we now pull the cork from a bottle brought back home, it is probably even more delicious with its chalky minerality.
Les Monts Damnés is kimmeridge. A tremendously steep slope, known since medevial time to give beautiful wines. Bourgeois raises the wine, made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes, on stainless steel tanks.
La Côte des Monts Damnés 2007
Deep golden yellow colour. Big developed to mature nose. First some tropical aromas and light floral notes, then the citrus, minerality and school chalk. Medium bodied, dry with fresh marked acidity and round palate filling rich feeling. The aftertaste is long and lovely: minerality, citrus, barely mature pineapple, complex with a light green vegetal touch.
Pure with beautiful structure. Exquisite!
Sancerre d’Antan provide us with a new set of notes. Sauvignon Blanc grapes from an old vineyard and smokey flint soil, silex in French. d’Antan was fermented on old barrels (4-6 years), then a twelve month rest on the lees with battonage twice a week during October to March, thereafter just one. Only two rackings (at full moon!) during the year. Neither fined, nor filtered. d’Antan gave us back then the biggest wow factor. Now it is wow x 2.
Sancerre d’Antan 2008
Beautifully deep golden shimmering. Big and broad developed complex aromas with integrated creamy notes of oak combined with crispy gooseberries and discreet black current leaves together with a pinch of minerality. Medium bodied with razor sharp acidity, at the same time as the palate is filled by a round delectable feeling. The first attack gives citrus, apricot and mature fruit. In the middle crispy fresh green gooseberries and in the finish round elderberry lemonade and creamy oak. Long, long, long complex aftertaste with highlights of citrus, black current lemonade and creaminess.
Exquisite! Wow, wow!
This is something each wine lover should have a chance to experience. Explore Sancerre! There is so much more to find than just black currant and “cat’s pee on the gooseberry bush”!
Read more:
Link to Henri Bourgeois on the web.
In Swedish:
About our visit to Henri Bourgeois during harvest.
About Sancerre and the differents soils.
About the other pride of Chavignol, the most(?) delicious goat cheese, Crottin de Chavignol.
Lovely Wine Grapes 