As the demand for Sancerre has exploded and more labels appear on the shelves, it has become challenging for wine lovers to sort out the good from the great. Today, we bring you two truly great whites from Sancerre, both from boutique growers, both deliciously classic in style, and both tariff free!

We lead off with the 2023 Alphonse Mellot "La Moussière" Sancerre (92+ Points, $35.99), a perfect expression of delicious minerality from one of the region’s most storied producers. Alphonse and his sister Emmanuelle are the 19th generation of their family in Sancerre, which is mind-boggling. The quality of their benchmark wines make this property worth exploring deeply.

Next is a single-site Sancerre from one of the most allocated growers in the entire Loire Valley, Lucien Crochet. The 2022 Lucien Crochet "Le Chêne Marchand" Sancerre (94 Points, $53.99) is next level, with a deep concentration of material that few bottlings achieve. It is complex, ageworthy, and extremely limited - and just a few cases are available today. 

Rounding things out is an excellent value Loire Sauvignon Blanc from 75 kilometers southwest of Sancerre. The 2022 Domaine Charpentier "Les Beaumonts" Reuilly Blanc (91+ Points, $21.99) has many of the attributes that we all love about Sancerre, and sells for a steal of a price!

Scroll down to learn about all three of these Loire Valley Sauvignon Blancs, then click the Big Green Button to order a few of them!

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2023 Alphonse Mellot "La Moussière" Sancerre
Loire Valley, France
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Alphonse Mellot crafts classic dry whites that lead with minerality, precision and crunchy fruits. The domaine is currently run by Alphonse’s children, Alphonse Jr. and Emmanuelle - the 19th generation to work the family vines.

This flagship "La Moussière" bottling is from biodynamically farmed estate Sauvignon Blanc vines growing in Sancerre's famed Kimmeridgien calcaire soils.

Leading with limestone and sticky white clay earth flavors, the wine is delicious. After a few swirls, classic notes of cured lemon, nectarine and prickly pear fruits pop, while boxwood, bell pepper and jasmine add complexity. Texturally pleasingly plump, it has a soft ease that balances the taut structure. This is a Sancerre you can drink with friends at cocktail hour, or serve at the table with shrimp scampi or fried chicken. A wine to serve to both traditional Sancerre drinkers and newbies alike, the quality comes through loud and clear, earning a solid 92+ points from our tasters.

At its online median retail of $40, this is worth buying. As usual, our price is a bit less. Drinking great now, this will continue strong for several years!

Vin Chicago Price: 35.99

2022 Lucien Crochet "Le Chêne Marchand" Sancerre
Loire Valley, France
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Lucien Crochet is one of our top three, all-time favorite Sancerre growers, and their wines have been extremely difficult to come by lately. The following on these wines has become cult-like!

Run by Lucien’s son Gilles, the domaine is located in the coveted sub-zone of Bué. Everything is done by hand here. In the cellar, only natural processes are utilized - wild yeasts, no enzymes, no manipulation. These wines are naked and humble, revealing their great complexity via texture and subtlety.

This bottling is produced from a few parcels in Bué including, of course, the iconic "Clos du Chêne Marchand" vineyard. A tier above Crochet’s entry cuvées, it is incredibly dense and packed with material. This 2022 is fleshy and completely yummy, with salty, mineral-driven flavors on the nose and in the mouth.

As this special Sauvignon Blanc warms in your glass, delicately spicy flavors of citrus, orchard and tropical fruits will open up, along with herbs and chalky-clay earth. In the mouth, you'll find richness without fat, a gritty crunch, and a long, finessed finish. Earning a 94-point score from our tasters, this is next-tier Sancerre. Our sample was opened for several days and never tired. A very special dry white here to enjoy now and over the next 4 to 5 years with scallops, trout or veal. Impressive!

We have only a few cases available. Click quickly on this one.

Vin Chicago Price: 53.99

An Impressive Dry White from Sancerre's Neighbor to the West!

2022 Domaine Charpentier "Les Beaumonts" Reuilly
Loire Valley, France
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Jean-Baptiste Charpentier and his brothers farm vines that were given to them by their grandfather. Their family domaine is located in Reuilly, a Loire Valley appellation located west and south of Sancerre.

Working organically with Sauvignon Blanc growing in gravel and limestone/clay soils, they make their “Les Beaumonts” bottling from a single 0.9-hectare parcel of 30-year-old vines. 

Fleshy, rich, and deliciously complex, it features flavors of cured lemon, nectarine, and citrus blossoms. Earning 91+ points on our scale, it is perfect for nights when you want to drink something that tastes like Sancerre - with that dry, mineral and citrus theme - but sells for a little bit less.

Vin Chicago Price: 21.99