François le Saint -- Sancerre Rouge

While the name Sancerre has become fairly well-known in the US, this producer is anything but common. The Fouassier family is one of the oldest wine growing families in the Loire Valley, and today is also the largest landholder in Sancerre… and they don’t take their history for granted in the slightest. With the 10th generation now managing the estate, Benoît and Paul proudly continue their forefathers’ tradition of organic farming and biodynamic principles; minimal intervention is their key to great wine.

Grape: Pinot Noir 100%

Region: Sancerre, Loire Valley, France

Farming: Organic (Ecocert), Biodynamic (Biodyvin), 40 year old vines grown in Kimmeridgian limestone soil, hand harvested

Winery: Spontaneous fermentation with wild yeast, aged 12 months neutral oak, minimal SO2/filtration, zero additives