Vincent Roussely makes some of my favorite Loire Valley value wines, and his L'Escale Sauvignon Blanc exhibits serious Sancerre style at about half the price.
At just $15.99 per bottle (no further discounts) through June 27, it's one of the best French Sauvignon Blanc values in the shop.
If you're a fan of Sancerre but not always a fan of Sancerre prices, keep reading.
Vincent is the fourth generation of his family to tend vines in Touraine, in the heart of the Central Loire Valley. Like all great vignerons, he believes that great wine is made in the vineyard. That's why he converted the estate to organic farming and attained certification back in 2007.
He didn't "go organic" to be trendy or for marketing purposes. He did it because healthier and more vibrant soils produce better grapes and better wines. Roussely's L'Escale Sauvignon Blanc is grown in clay, limestone, and flint soils, much like those found in Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. Fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel and aged on its lees for eight months, it combines freshness, texture, and complexity in a way that far exceeds its humble price tag.
The resulting wine shows classic Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc character. Crisp, lively, and vibrant, it smells and tastes of Bosc pear, green apple, ripe citrus, fresh herbs, and flinty mineral. Bright, mouth-watering, and thirst-quenching, this is the sort of white that keeps you coming back for sip after sip.
Lynn and I enjoyed a bottle recently alongside pan-seared trout and green beans, and we both agreed that this would be a wonderful companion to grilled shrimp, fresh oysters, goat cheese salads, and all sorts of warm-weather meals.
Get a bottle in the fridge and see for yourself!
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville
