New Fan of Sancerre Wines

[wondersofwine]

Count me among the new fans of Sancerre. I had been wanting to try a white Sancerre but my usual wine shop had only one at $27 and I thought that was rather pricey. Was in Raleigh last Saturday and stopped to see what open bottles they had for tasting that day. They had two new white Sancerres, one from Pelle and one from Mellot called "Les Moussieres". Liked both and bought a bottle of each at about $15 and $17. They also had Italian zinfandel from Puglia for tasting, Tescarone from the Lamborghini family in Italy (made from sangiovese and two other grapes) and a rather nice 1999 Le Corti Chianti Classico (13% alcohol). I didn't go into the Australian wines on this visit but did try an Austrian Gruner Veltliner.
Then I went to Vin Restaurant where I tried some more wines in the smallest size available (1.5 oz.) They also offer 3 oz., 5 oz. or by the bottle. I tried a Cotat Sancerre Rose' (didn't notice the vintage--perhaps a 1999). It was wonderfully refreshing and seemed to have a light essence of strawberry--well balanced, aromatic, and a delightful wine for summer meals. I also was entranced by the dessert wine I tried, Burklin-Wolf Wachenheimer Auslese from Germany. Then switched to reds with a WillaKenzie Croft Pinot Noir and a 1999 Burgundy that I had enjoyed at a previous tasting--the Arlaud Gevrey Combottes. I would definitely be inclined to buy the Sancerre Rose' or the Wachenheimer Auslese and already have bought similar Burgundy and Pinot Noir.

[Bucko]

Purity of fruit is usually the name of the game with Sancerre. I love them and they make terrific food wines.