Domaine Claude Riffault - Limestone Mosaic - Sancerre White 2024
Domaine Claude Riffault is one of the major signatures of Sancerre, located in Sury-en-Vaux, in the northern part of the appellation. Under the impetus of Stéphane Riffault, the estate has profoundly renewed the image of Loire Sauvignon Blanc by favoring a reading of terroir, texture, and precision rather than a simply varietal expression. The vineyard covers about 13.5 hectares, spread over numerous plots and several lieux-dits, with very detailed parcel work. The soils are plowed, the harvests are handpicked, and the estate is certified organic and biodynamic. This requirement gives rise to wines that are upright, lively, and deeply identity-driven, where each cuvée expresses a particular nuance of Sancerre limestone. Limestone Mosaic 2024 holds an essential place in this range, as it offers a more accessible and transversal reading of the Riffault style. It is a precise Sancerre white, conceived as a gateway to the estate's universe, while retaining a true depth of terroir.
The Limestone Mosaic 2024 cuvée is made exclusively from Sauvignon Blanc, the emblematic grape of Sancerre. It comes from young and old vines aged 5 to 52 years, planted on white soils and caillottes, two major geological markers of the appellation. White soils often bring depth, texture, and a broader sensation, while caillottes provide more tension, brightness, and limestone precision. The cuvée assembles several origins of limestone soils, notably including a portion from the Boucauds and Chasseignes sectors. Fermentation with indigenous yeasts takes place in stainless steel tanks to preserve the fruit's energy and the clarity of the Sauvignon. The 8-month aging in concrete tanks then brings a discreet patina, more focused on texture than on aroma. The result is a Sancerre that is at once immediate, serious, and very readable, where limestone minerality remains at the heart of the balance.
In the glass, Domaine Claude Riffault Limestone Mosaic Sancerre White 2024 reveals a bright, pure, and finely taut profile. The nose evokes yellow lemon, grapefruit, fresh apple, white flowers, and a slight aniseed note. The palate is precise and energetic, with a lively attack followed by a more textured body, faithful to the estate's style. The limestone dimension brings a saline, almost chalky sensation that lengthens the finish without hardening the wine. This is not a demonstrative or exotic Sancerre, but a white of balance, finesse, and freshness, built around the purity of fruit and the vibration of the soil. It will perfectly accompany oysters, grilled fish, asparagus, ceviche, creamy poultry, or aged goat cheese. Serve around 10 to 12°C, in a sufficiently large glass to allow its texture and mineral dimension to express themselves.
Grape variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
