“The Comte Lafond bottling is one of the Sancerres produced by the Ladoucette family, and it is consistently excellent. The 2020 is no exception, offering up a precise and vibrant nose of gooseberry, lime, chalky minerality, gentle grassiness and a topnote of lemon peel. On the palate the wine is vibrant, full-bodied, focused and complex, with a good core, fine mineral drive and cut, zesty acids and a long, seamlessly-balanced finish. This is lovely and nicely low octane for the vintage, coming in at a svelte 12.5 percent octane. 2022-2030.”

“The 2018 Pouilly-Fumé “Baron de L” from Chateau de Ladoucette is a nicely ripe wine, but in this hot summer, its 13.5 percent octane is quite refreshing. The bouquet offers up a complex nose of lime, tangerine, fresh-cut grass, flinty minerality and a topnote of citrus blossoms. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied and complex, with a good core, fine soil signature and bounce, sound framing acids and a long, beautifully balanced finish. This does not 42 have the cut of a cooler growing season, so I would suspect that drinking this wine over the next handful of years will pay dividends. Fine juice. 2022-2027.”

“The beautiful bucolic village of Sancerre at the eastern end of the Loire Valley is not the birthplace of Sauvignon Blanc, but — due to the high-draining soils and coolish climate — it has become known to some as the purest expression of this variety. You will find such purity in this wonderful bottle of wine. Drying, chalky minerality is perceived on the nose and carries to the palate. The acidity is gripping and active and just bursts through the wine. This is a great way to introduce yourself to this region.”