Domaine des Grandes Perrieres Sancerre 2010

This has modest intensity to its lime and chive flavors, with a crisp finish. Drink now.

Sauvignon Blancs from the Loire Valley taste like no others - lighter than those from Bordeaux, more elegant than those of New Zealand, with a flinty, mineral base to add complexity to the crisp, grassy notes the varietal is famous for. The Grands Perrières is aromatic, very mineral, dry and crisp, with fruit nicely balanced by acid and nothing obscured by oak. Go ahead and treat yourself!

From their perch above the Loire River, the vineyards surrounding Sancerre produce an eponymous wine that is one of the quintessential expressions of Sauvignon Blanc in the world: racy and pungent, with characteristic flavors of gooseberries and other tangy white fruits, electric acidity and, often, steely minerality. The 2006 from Domaine Des Grandes Perriéres embodies many of these qualities. It explodes in the nose with aromas of Crispin apple, which follow through on the palate together with white peach, lemon grass and thyme. The sassy acidity carries these flavors through a long finish. This is an exceptionally good value in its category. Serve with chicken scallopine with lemon, cream and artichoke bottoms.

A light, very fresh style of Sancerre, with fine flinty, mineral character. Plenty of citrus and fresh pears give this an easy, vibrant style. A wine to drink over the next year.

I often forget how much I love Sancerre until we get a new one, and then I usually fall in love all over again! As a bonus, the Grands Perrieres comes in under $20! Bright and sunny, but with a depth of green herb flavors, this Loire Sauvignon Blanc is accessible to just about everyone, and drinks beautifully with light vegetarian dishes, grilled chicken and most fish dishes.