ALPHONSE MELLOT LES PENITENTS ROUGE LOIRE FRANCE 2020

Along with the domaine Vacheron, Mellot is one of the greatest producers of ‘classic’ Sancerre: linear, lithe, acid-driven and elegant wines quite different from the powerhouse whites that tend to come from Chavignol. Also like Vacheron, Mellot farms biodynamically and produces a wide range of cuvées, including many site-specific ones, mostly from the areas surrounding the medieval town of Sancerre itself. The style is here supremely elegant, and the top wines have good aging (10+ yrs) potential.

Alphonse is the nineteenth generation of his family to tend vines in Sancerre, and while he could have coasted on the power of his family’s name (and the inherent marketability of the Sancerre brand), he’s chosen a road less traveled — the labor intensive, economically risky path of biodynamic farming. In a region where mass production in the name of profit is common, his rejection of synthetic herbicides, pesticides and mechanical harvesting is a bold move.

Such dedication makes a difference. By prizing the health and integrity of his land, Mellot renders singular wines of grace and balance that are veritable blueprints of regional terroir.