Michel Vattan "B-C" Sancerre Rouge 2022

Winemaking

Michel Vattan is a small grower-producer in Sancerre who focuses on expressing the mineral character and finesse of his vineyard sites. His approach emphasizes restraint and balance, allowing the cool-climate terroir of the Loire Valley to shine through in both his whites and this increasingly celebrated red cuvée.

Tasting Notes

This elegant Pinot Noir opens with bright red cherry and raspberry aromatics, underscored by subtle herbal and mineral notes that are the hallmark of cool-climate Sancerre. On the palate, the wine is refined and silky, with fine-grained tannins and a distinctive earthiness that speaks to the terroir. The finish is crisp and persistent, driven by the wine's natural acidity—this is a Pinot Noir built for freshness rather than power.

Producer

Michel Vattan operates a small family estate in the heart of Sancerre, where he tends his vineyard parcels with meticulous attention. The domaine works its vineyards sustainably and keeps production deliberately modest, focusing on quality over volume and allowing each vintage to reflect both the site and the year.

Terroir

Sancerre sits on the left bank of the Loire River in the upper Loire Valley, where continental and oceanic influences create one of France's coolest wine regions. The vineyard soils here are composed of three distinct terroirs—limestone-rich caillottes, clay-limestone terres blanches, and iron-rich clayey soils called cailloutes—each imparting minerality and structure to the wines. This cool climate and chalky subsoil are ideal for producing lean, elegant Pinot Noirs with pronounced acidity and mineral precision.

Food Pairings

Serve this wine lightly chilled alongside roasted chicken with herbs and lemon, where its silky tannins and red fruit won't overpower the delicate poultry. It's equally at home with a casual charcuterie board of cured meats and soft cheeses, or paired with pan-seared salmon where the wine's acidity cuts through the richness beautifully. For a more composed dish, try it with duck breast cooked medium-rare and finished with a tart cherry sauce.