Among the most talented practitioners of blending in Sancerre is Thibauld Denizot, the 8th generation winemaker at Domaine Denizot, a 19-hectare estate centered in Verdigny. The greatest percentage of vines (90%) are grown on the iconic caillottes soil of Sancerre, which is a gravel-rich limestone-clay soil of Oxfordian origin that produces delicate and elegantly perfumed grapes. Denizot “grand cru” holdings of caillottes include parcels in les Bouffants, Côte de l’Épée, and Monts Damnés. The remaining 10% of Denizot vines are grown on the notable Terres Blanches soil, which is Kimmeridgian marl that yields fruitier and more structured wines.
On the nose, it is intensely aromatic, offering vibrant notes of gooseberry, passionfruit, and green apple, with delicate floral hints of elderflower and orange blossom. The wine's minerality is accented by an underlying aroma of wet stones and a touch of flint. On the palate, this Sancerre is crisp and refreshing, with a taut, energetic structure. Those lifted, exotic fruit flavors from the nose are complemented by citrus notes of lemon and grapefruit, and subtle herbal undertones of freshly cut grass and mint. The wine's texture is refined and elegant, with a long, lingering finish that leaves a satisfying impression of juicy white fruit and mineral freshness.
