Thomas Labaille Sancerre Blanc VV Les Monts Damnés 2019

Domaine Thomas-Labaille faced challenging conditions during the 2019 harvest due to extreme heat, mild and dry winters, and frost in April. Despite the concerns, the vigneron persevered and produced an exceptional Sancerre, Chavignol. The wine underwent native yeast fermentation in fiberglass and concrete with a slight addition of SO2, followed by resting on its lees in stainless steel for four to six weeks before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.

The resulting 2019 Cuvée Les Monte Damnés is a reflection of Thomas Labaille's prediction that Sancerres will become leaner and more substantial in the coming years. While the wine is indeed more substantial, its structural integrity is preserved with bright, undiminished acidity. These Sancerres may even have the potential to improve with a few years of aging. Aromas of grapefruit zest, peach pit, lime leaf, and crushed gravel are accompanied by a distinct flinty, almost smoky minerality.