Domaine de la Villaudière Sancerre "Les Villaudes"

Domaine de la Villaudière is the estate of the Jean-Marie Reverdy family, whose roots in the Loire Valley run eleven generations deep, guided by a shared philosophy of patience, precision, and respect for the land. Les Villaudes comes from a single, estate-owned parcel planted in 1979 in Verdigny, opposite the family's winery, on Terres Blanches terroir with a south-easterly exposure and optimal sunshine. Terres Blanches, one of Sancerre's classic soil types, is a chalky, marl-limestone soil that lends structure and a distinctive minerality to the wines grown on it. 100% Sauvignon Blanc, the fruit is harvested at optimal ripeness, gently conveyed to the press by vibration rather than harsh handling, and the juice is allowed to run off by gravity. In a stylistic departure from more straightforward, stainless-steel Sancerre, alcoholic fermentation takes place entirely in oak barrels, without malolactic fermentation, to preserve the wine's natural acidity and freshness, and it's then aged for 12 months on fine lees in barrels that have already held several vintages of wine. The goal of this barrel aging isn't overt oak flavor, but rather to let the wine interact more fully with its environment, drawing out texture and finesse that highlight the individual character of this specific parcel.