Sancerre Blanc Cuvée Silex 2022 from Domaine Serge Laloue is a must-have for any Sauvignon Blanc enthusiast. It’s a stunning combination of freshness and elegance, layered with the complexity that comes from Sancerre’s unique terroir and its famed silex soils. Add to that a 17.5/20 rating from Jancis Robinson MW, and you know this is a wine you don’t want to miss.
The story of Domaine Serge Laloue begins with a family deeply rooted in Sancerre. Originally farmers, Serge Laloue turned his focus to viticulture, expanding his estate in his hometown of Thauvenay with care and respect for the environment. What sets this domaine apart is its commitment to expressing the natural character of Sancerre’s terroir, avoiding excessive winemaking intervention. Since 1990, his children Christine and Franck have taken over, now farming 20 hectares of AOC Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir) and 5 hectares of IGP Côtes de la Charité (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir). In 2023, the estate earned organic certification, and today it produces wines that reflect the three dominant soil types of Sancerre—terre blanche, caillottes, and silex—each bottle offering a unique expression of the land.
Sancerre Blanc Cuvée Silex 2022 Domaine Serge Laloue comes from a 44-year-old, low-yielding vineyard, perched on the hills, where flint-rich soils give the wine its signature mineral intensity. Grapes are hand-harvested, fermented in stainless steel tanks, and aged on fine lees for 10 months with regular bâtonnage (lees stirring). The result is a wine with rich texture and impressive complexity, preserving the vibrant minerality of the terroir and the pure aromatics of Sauvignon Blanc. This cuvée is considered the flagship of unoaked wines of the estate.
The 2022 vintage was one of the best in the Loire Valley—some even say the best in decades. Need we say more?
