Domaine Claude Riffault - Les Boucauds - Sancerre Blanc 2024
Domaine Claude Riffault is one of the most sought-after names in Sancerre, located in Sury-en-Vaux, to the north of the appellation. Since Stéphane Riffault took over, the estate has gradually imposed a style of great precision, where each lieu-dit is worked as a true terroir identity. The Burgundian influence is felt in this parcel-by-parcel approach, in the care given to the aging process, and in the search for texture rather than simple varietal expression. The vines are managed with high standards, certified organic and biodynamic farming, to preserve soil vitality and the natural balance of the grapes. The estate works a mosaic of parcels spread over several lieux-dits, with an important place given to Sauvignon Blanc. Les Boucauds holds an essential position in the range, as this cuvée represents a significant part of the estate's sauvignons. This Sancerre Blanc 2024 fits within the spirit of great Loire whites of terroir, both precise, textured, and deeply mineral.
The Les Boucauds 2024 cuvée is made exclusively from Sauvignon Blanc, the emblematic grape of Sancerre. It comes from several parcels located in the lieu-dit Les Boucauds, on white soils composed of marls and clays resting on Kimmeridgian limestone. This type of soil often produces Sancerres that are broader, deeper, and more textured than the strictly bright or varietal expressions of Sauvignon. At Claude Riffault, manual harvesting and careful sorting preserve a healthy, ripe, and expressive raw material. Fermentation with indigenous yeasts accompanies the identity of the place without seeking to standardize the aromatic profile. Aging, carried out between stainless steel tanks and neutral barrels, brings depth and structure without marking the wine with wood. In the 2024 vintage, Les Boucauds should express a particularly interesting balance between brightness, freshness, mouth density, and limestone tension.
In the glass, Domaine Claude Riffault Les Boucauds Sancerre Blanc 2024 reveals a precise, bright, and very refined profile. The nose evokes ripe citrus fruits, yellow lemon, grapefruit, white flowers, and white-fleshed fruits, with an aniseed nuance and a stony touch. The palate is distinguished by its texture, broader and more enveloping than that of a simply varietal Sancerre, while maintaining great energy. The mineral framework brings verticality, with a saline sensation that extends the finish. The wine combines aromatic intensity, fruit purity, and terroir depth, in a style both taut and gastronomic. It will perfectly accompany a noble fish, scallops, asparagus, creamy poultry, a matured Loire goat cheese, or a vegetable cuisine worked around fresh herbs. Serve around 10 to 12°C in a fairly large glass, after slight aeration, to allow its full dimension of texture and minerality to open up.
Grape variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
