Domaine Vacheron - Chambrates 2022
In Sancerre, Domaine Vacheron is among the most respected names in contemporary Loire wines. This family estate, now managed by Jean-Laurent and Jean-Dominique Vacheron, has established itself through a demanding approach to Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, with a very precise parcel-by-parcel reading of the great terroirs of the appellation. The estate works with organic and biodynamic farming, seeking a balance between ripeness, aromatic purity, and mineral expression. Chambrates is one of the most sought-after single-vineyard cuvées of the house, coming from a terroir located on the heights of Sancerre. This lieu-dit rests on white soils dominated by limestone and clay, which give the wine a particular depth, fine tension, and great aging potential. The 2022 vintage, sunny and generous, offers a broad, ripe, and expressive body while maintaining the uprightness that is the estate's hallmark. This cuvée embodies a Sancerre of great precision, far from a simple varietal white, with an obvious terroir dimension and a true nobility of texture.
Chambrates 2022 is made from Sauvignon Blanc sourced from a parcel selected for its geological identity and its ability to produce deep wines. The white soils, rich in limestone and clay, provide the wine with a broader and more complex structure than the most immediate expressions of the appellation. The biodynamic vineyard management promotes regular ripening of the grapes while preserving the wine's natural energy. The harvest is carried out carefully to preserve freshness, aromatic clarity, and berry integrity. The vinification primarily aims to respect the vintage's balance, without masking the fruit or hardening the body. The aging accompanies the cuvée with finesse, bringing texture, depth, and better integration of the vintage's power. In 2022, Chambrates shows itself particularly complete, with a remarkable alliance between richness, saline tension, and mineral precision.
The color shows a bright light yellow with slightly golden reflections. The nose opens on ripe citrus fruits, candied lemon, grapefruit, fresh pear, and white flowers, before gaining depth with notes of wet chalk, warm stone, fine almond, and light smoky nuances. On the palate, the attack is broad, dense, and perfectly controlled, with a body that envelops the palate without ever losing its freshness. The limestone framework brings vertical tension, while the 2022 vintage gives the wine a sensation of flesh, ripeness, and generosity. The finish is long, saline, carried by noble bitterness, precise citrus, and persistent minerality. This great Sancerre will perfectly accompany roasted turbot, salt-crusted sea bass, scallops, grilled lobster, creamy poultry, aged goat cheese, or an old Crottin de Chavignol. Served around 11 to 12°C, it can already be enjoyed after slight aeration but will gain complexity after a few years in the cellar.
Grape variety: Sauvignon Blanc
