Domaine Gerard Fiou, Le Grand Roc Blanc, Sancerre

Domaine Gerard Fiou is a 9 hectare family estate which was created several generations ago by Gerard Fiou’s ancestors. Fiou serves as an important piece of Loire portfolio, as the estate sits on the famous flint filled hills of St-Satur in the eastern portion of the Sancerre appellation – Only a small percentage of terroir in Sancerre is made up of this soil type, which is much more common in neighboring Pouilly-Fume. This, combined with unusually old vines, means memorable Sancerre with deep minerality.

“Grand Roc” is the name of one of the best vineyards in the village of Saint-Satur which is where the small pocket of “Silex (Flint) Terroir” is located. Only 12% of Sancerre is on Silex so this kind of bottling is always a rarity. This cuvée comes from 61 year old Sauvignon Blanc vines very well exposed: south, south-west.

A part of the wine is vinified in tanks and an other part in new oak barrels, then the wine is matured on its fine lees, regularly suspended by “bâtonnage” for 10 months.

Tasting Notes: The intense scents mingle with harmony; minerality alternates with a vanilla under currant with maturing citrus notes that can also be detected on the palate. The powerful wood starts to melt in a round and lively mouth. Superb balance.