Sancerre-Like Flavors at Less than $20: Domaine Ricard 'Le Petiot' Sauvignon Blanc

Sancerre-Like Flavors at Less than $20: Domaine Ricard 'Le Petiot' Sauvignon Blanc

Vincent Ricard produces an exquisite example of Touraine Sauvignon Blanc that would give many Sancerres a serious run for their money. Possessing classic Loire Valley character and style, this is a stupid-good value from one of the top estates in the region.

With Sancerre stocks low after the frost-plagued 2021 vintage, I urge you to give this a try. Vintage 2022 was nearly perfect in the Loire Valley, and once you get this wine into your glass, that will become abundantly obvious. This is a prime example of why France's Loire Valley is considered the spiritual birthplace of Sauvignon Blanc. It is so expressive, so evocative, and the price, you can't beat it! 

Domaine Ricard Le Petiot Sauvignon Blanc

2022 Domaine Ricard Touraine Blanc 'Le Petiot'

Beautiful Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc at an incredible price!   

ORDER NOW in our online store. 

Since joining his family's estate in 1998, Vincent Ricard has helped to elevate them to one of the finest producers in the appellation. For years, the Ricards were simply grape growers, opting to sell their harvest to the local cooperative. In 1999, Vincent and his father Alain, bought themselves out of their cooperative contract, and Domaine Ricard was born.

Vincent led the charge towards organic certification, which the estate received in 2008. Having trained with some of the best vignerons in the Loire, a bastion of clean farming and meticulous winemaking, Ricard knows what he is doing.  His Sauvignon Blanc vineyards are south-facing and located on the upper terraces of the Cher River where the soils are a mixture of limestone, clay, and flint, not unlike those found in Sancerre and Pouilly Fume. Vincent works with low yields, ferments with native yeasts, and ages around 20% of his wine in older barrels for a little extra texture.

All of this attention to detail is on full display in this wine. It opens with bright and engaging aromas of ripe citrus, green apple, wet rock, and herbal notes of mint and lemon verbena. The palate is nicely concentrated, finely textured, and that additional aging in oak gives the wine an added textural dimension and harmony. All in all, this is about as good as Touraine Sauvignon Blanc gets.

Sancerre prices aren't going down anytime soon, and it won't be long before wines like this will join that pattern. With Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc more popular than ever, it's just a matter of time before other wine lovers worldwide "notice" this wine. You know what to do next!

ORDER NOW in our online store. 

Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville