The domaine was created in 1988 by Patrick Noël in his native village of Saint-Satur at the foot of the iconic hill of Sancerre. Patrick is descended from more than three centuries of vignerons, all from the village of Chavignol. Historically, in the Noël family, the vines have always been transmitted from mothers to daughters. Patrick is an exception to this rule, but his daughter Julie, by choosing to take over the wine heritage in her turn, is part of a long matriarchal line. Today the domain farms over fifty plots totaling 18 ha in the appellations of Sancerre, Menetou-Salon, and Pouilly-Fumé. In Sancerre, their parcels are on three terroirs, Les Bouffants, la Côte des Monts Damnés, and l’Orme au Loup. The cellar was built within the 14th-century monastery vineyards of the Abbey of Saint-Satur, buried in the hillside where they work exclusively by gravity, overlooking the entire Loire Valley with breathtaking views of Sancerre. The domaine bottles only estate fruit, fermented exclusively with native, indigenous yeasts. They have also implemented the certification of their plots through a new ecological farming certification program in France known as Haute Valeur Environnementale. Their Sancerre is just superb: luminous yellow gold in color with glints of silver and aromas suggesting cool ripe melon, mirabelle plum, a summer's rain-moistened limestone (Glenn noted lime and lime flower, too; this is, of course, what ripe Sauvignon Blanc smells like when grown in its favored Kimmeridgian soils in a warm vintage); gently rich, ample, yet graceful (Henry noted a feeling of "weightlessness") on the palate, with vibrancy and intensity of flavor that one might expect from the finest of white Burgundies, but, hey, this is Sancerre, Paris' favorite bistro white wine, and ever so approachable, delicious and quaffable, even if it is, as in this case, so seriously good.

Produce of 100% Sauvignon Blanc planted to the argilo-calcaire (clay/limestone) soils of the hills and ridges between the villages of Chavignol and Sancerre. Domaine Henri Bourgeois have been producing wine here for 10 generations. And their Sancerre «Les Baronnes» is, in our humble estimation, a shining example of textbook Sancerre: vivid yellow gold in color with emerald green reflections; aromas suggestive of citrus and cool ripe melon and the ever Kimmeridgian clay/limestone underpinnings (one can almost smell the refreshment to come); poised on the palate, holding shape while delivering a nice wallop of vibrant fresh, crisp, mouthwateringly minérale Sancerrois Sauvignon Blanc flavor.

During the battle of the city of Vendôme in 1590, King Henri IV fell in love with the local wine here. A known bon vivant, he was nicknamed Le Vert Galant. The Coteaux du Vendômois vineyards lie in the Loir and Cher département in the Loire Valley to the northwest of Blois and west of Orléans. While this is a relatively new project for Famille Bourgeois of Sancerre, it is, in our estimation, already showing good result. Produce of Pineau d'Aunis an ancient Loire Valley grape variety which, despite the name and except for the pine cone-shaped clusters, is unrelated to Pinot Noir. Delicate and fresh in aroma with subtle hint of wild strawberry and cherry blossom; cool and crisp on the tongue with surprising intensity of flavor and a pleasingly tart, taut fruit character and flavor that lasts and refreshes.

The Thomas family have been growing grapes and making wine in Sancerre since 1670. Today, Julien represents the 13th generation to run the domaine, farming 16 hectares (39 acres) of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir based out of the hamlet of Verdigny. Julien has recently taken the helm at the estate. He has instituted biodynamic principals with vineyard work now according to the lunar cycle. Some of the more venerable among our discerning clientèle may remember their superb Sancerre Clos de La Crêle when it was imported by Bobby Kacher. The wines remain superb. Produce of 100% Sauvignon Blanc from on average 25 year-old vines cultivated on soils of limestone and Kimmeridgian dark marl with layers of fossilized seashells, their Sancerre Le Pierrier initially reflects more the soils than just the grape; then there are suggestions of yellow plum, fresh chervil or fennel, gentian flower, flesh of green apple and limestone awash in gentle summer rainfall; just ample on entry, just rounded in texture, then shows a lovely vibrancy on the tongue with a fresh intensity of flavor that lasts and lasts and so stimulates the salivary glands; really lovely example of perhaps our discerning clientèle's favorite source for Sauvignon Blanc — Sancerre.

The Domaine des Corbillières is a 20-hectare estate located in the town of Oisly, about 30 kilometers east of the city of Tours in the Loire River Valley. It was three generations ago that Fabel Barbou planted his first Sauvignon Blanc, introducing the varietal in this central Loire appellation. The vines are today quite old and low-yielding. The wines nowadays are made with great care and passion by Fabel’s great-grandson, Dominique Barbou. Luminous bright green-gold in the glass; high-toned, ultra-fresh aromas of citrus, ripe melon, lemongrass; vibrant and alive on the tongue, almost électrique as its former importer, Mr. Bobby Kacher, would say. Domaine des Corbillières Touraine remains a completely and totally refreshingly crisp, nervy, delicious dry white wine. And always among the absolute best values available in high-quality Sauvignon Blanc, from anywhere on the planet.

The Loire Valley is also known as the garden of France. For those of us keen on the best in bubbles but not always wanting to spend the bucks for Champagne, the Loire Valley also represents among the best places to seek high quality suds. Domaine d'Orfeuilles Vouvray Brut is a luminous yellow-gold with reflections of silver in color with a bevy of fine persistent bubbles; classic aromas suggestive of toast, brioche, citrus preserve and freshly dew-moistened chalky limestone; at once vivid and crisp and full and round on the tongue, with depth and length of flavor that belies its friendly price.