2018 Gerard Fiou Sancerre Rouge Grand Roc Terroir de Silex

Domaine Gérard Fiou is a French family business in the eastern Loire region, founded by the ancestors of Gérard Fiou and taken over by the friendly Bourgeois family after his retirement. This family is the leading maker of Sancerre and Pouilly wines: their expertise is of great benefit to the Domaine Gerard Fiou winery! Wine has been made in this area since the 15th century, and monks have helped further develop viticulture.

The terroir of the vineyard of Domaine Gérard Fiou was for a long time considered too difficult for wine growing, but all wine growers in the area now agree that this is the most interesting terroir of Sancerre AOP. The 24 hectare domain has belonged to the Fiou family for several generations. The vineyards are planted on the particularly rich 'silex' soil in the area around Saint-Satur. This exceptional terroir provides optimal ripening of the grapes by storing the sun's heat and releasing this heat evenly at night. Under the leadership of Gerard Fiou, the domain is completely organic and officially certified since 2010.

This wine comes from old Pinot Noir vines of approximately 60 years old. The vineyards benefit from a very good south-southeast exposure and a particularly rich clay-siliceous soil. Part of the wine is vinified in stainless steel tanks (40%) and another part in new French oak barrels with light toasting (60%). The wine is then aged for 12 months in barrels and barrels. The red Sancerre "Le Grand Roc" develops aromas of cherries and plums with light jammy notes. The tannin structure is light and elegant with a beautiful mineral aftertaste.

About Sancerre

Sancerre is the home of Sauvignon Blanc as Burgundy is the home of Pinot Noir: it seems the whole world is trying to find Sauvignon Blanc to match the excellence of Sancerre's output. Each wine region has its idiosyncrasies, and it's fun to taste the expression of terroir (and winemakers' style) in wines from the same grape variety grown in different areas, sometimes on different continents. Yet Sancerre is the champion in his field. The Loire divides the region in two. On the left bank we find Sancerre itself, where the hills are rich in limestone and clay, with soils so chalky that they are called "white soils" (terres blanche), because they become very light when dry. On the right bank is the Pouilly-Fumé Subregion, whose northeastern soils are richer in clay-flint. This soil type also occurs on the other bank of the river, so it is difficult to make a clear geological separation between Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. Gravel soil of erosive origin is scattered here and there throughout the Sancerre region, so optimal drainage is also guaranteed, slopes do the rest.