Domaine Paul Prieur - Grains de Pinot - Sancerre Rouge 2023
Domaine Paul Prieur is one of the historic houses of Sancerre, with a family presence claimed for eleven generations in this emblematic area of the Loire Valley. Located in Verdigny, on the Monts Damnés road, the estate benefits from a renowned wine-growing environment, between limestone, marl, and well-exposed slopes. Since the 2012 vintage, Luc Prieur has managed the property with an approach that combines terroir precision, manual work, and the pursuit of brilliance in the wines. The vineyard is cultivated in an artisanal and organic manner, with AB certification effective from the 2022 vintage. The estate's reds hold a special place in Sancerre, as they come from the Les Pichons lieu-dit, a near-monopoly of 5 hectares located below the Monts Damnés hill. Planted with Pinot Noir from old massal selections, this area produces wines that are deeper and more structured than the sometimes light image of Sancerre reds. Grains de Pinot 2023 reflects this desire to reveal a Loire Valley Pinot Noir that is both ripe, fresh, and finely mineral.
The Grains de Pinot 2023 cuvée comes from the lower part of the Les Pichons lieu-dit, on a clay-limestone terroir that gives the Pinot Noir a framework that is both supple, fresh, and structuring. The grapes are hand-harvested, continuing the demanding work carried out in the vineyard by the estate. In the cellar, the vinification aims to preserve the expression of fruit and terroir, with fermentation conducted by indigenous yeasts and no sulfur added before fermentation. The maceration of the reds is done in open vats, with a proportion of whole cluster adjusted according to the cuvées and vintages, generally indicated between 20 and 40% for Grains de Pinot. Since 2021, the estate favors shorter macerations, around ten days, to maintain finesse, energy, and aromatic precision. The 15-month aging mainly combines 228-liter barrels of several wines and some amphorae, which allows the structure to meld without imposing a dominant woody character. The 2023 vintage here produces an expressive, ripe, and graceful Sancerre red, supported by a final freshness that naturally balances the fruit's density.
On tasting, the Domaine Paul Prieur Grains de Pinot Sancerre Rouge 2023 reveals a luminous Pinot Noir, marked by ripe cherry, Morello cherry, raspberry, small black fruits, and a delicate floral touch. Aeration can reveal nuances of violet, fine spices, light undergrowth, and fresh stone, in a deeper rather than demonstrative register. On the palate, the wine combines a fleshy texture with great flavor honesty, with fine tannins and acidity that lengthen the profile. The whole cluster portion adds relief, aromatic tension, and a slight spicy dimension, without hardening the whole. The finish remains fresh, precise, and persistent, with a mineral sensation that recalls the Sancerre origin of the wine. This Sancerre red will elegantly accompany roasted poultry, duck breast, veal roast with thyme, sautéed mushrooms, farm pork chop, or a soft cheese. It can be enjoyed young after slight aeration, but its structure and aging also allow it to evolve for a few years in the cellar.
Grape variety: 100% Pinot Noir
