David Lawrason’s Weekly Wine Pick: a tart, refreshing Sancerre

David Lawrason’s Weekly Wine Pick: a tart, refreshing Sancerre

Henri Bourgeois 2010 Les Baronnes Sancerre

$24.95 | Loire Valley, France | 90 points
Early summer is sauvignon blanc season. There are many good offerings from New Zealand, Chile and Niagara, but I’m paying serious attention to the 2010 whites from France—an excellent vintage with lower yields that left flavours more concentrated. The limestone soils of Sancerre add a certain extra class.

The taste: This has an intense nose of green rhubarb and granny smith apple fruit, with asparagus, nettle and flint. It’s light- to mid-weight, firm, tart-edged and juicy, with excellent length.

How to drink it: Serve it chilled but not right out of the ice—it has the natural acidity and tension to refresh all by itself. Pair it with cold summer salads or some nice chèvre.

Vintages Essentials. LCBO 542548