Gilles Lesimple’s Sancerre rarely makes it out of the Loire Valley—because it’s the kind of head-turning, singular Sauvignon Blanc that inspires case buys after a single glass and stops conversations dead in their tracks. A tiny-production, truly handmade affair, there are seldom chances to get it short of flying to France. At our price, it won’t last long here either.
Other Sancerre producers can only dream of terroir like Gilles Lesimple’s, which contains a rare trifecta of famous Sancerre soils that’s unmistakable in the wine: Flint found in eastern hilltops awakens minerality and purity, the “White Earth” from the west provides exotic aromas and elegance, and limestone imbues a long, mineral finish. Finding them all on the same vineyard is highly uncommon, but together the wine they produce truly represents the best of the Sancerre appellation like few others can.
Fourth-generation winegrowers, the Lesimple family has gotten intimately acquainted with their land over the last 50 years. With that many vintages under their collective belt, they know exactly what each soil type and native plant brings to the table and how to strike a perfect equilibrium in the wine.
Lemon peel, lime zest, and green apple aromas beam from the glass, tempered by wet stone. A sip reveals chalky mineral tones and bright, refreshing citrus flavors. Crisp and precise, this wine shows depth without overplaying tropical ripeness. The finish shows the suppleness and volume of the wines from the ‘stony’ vineyards, blending nicely with the mineral vivacity of the wines from the flint soils.
In short, this is a can’t-miss, get-it-before-it’s-gone deal on one of Sancerre’s most distinctive wines.
