Sancerre does not last long around here, whether it’s the white kind (Sauvignon Blanc) or the pink kind (best of which are Pinot Noir like today’s offering) does not seem to matter, as long as the value is there.

When we observed a hefty pile of the last Sancerre Rosé we featured (at $20!) vanish before our eyes, our radars went off for the next one. Spies like a good challenge as the pink kind makes up less than 1% of all Sancerre.

Decanter explains “Whatever the reason for Sancerre’s transformation from red to white, the change made its fortune, making it the Loire’s wealthiest, best-equipped AC. Sauvignon continues to dominate: of the 2,808 ha planted, only 619ha (22%) are Pinot. As some is made into rosé and yields for Pinot are lower than Sauvignon, red production accounts for just 11%… the excitement is somewhat of a French secret, as reds from the Central Vineyards represent less than 3% of their exports.”

This is why we stood in AWE when the opportunity to offer you today’s find at just $12.

That’s right! Twelve bucks. Your average pool admission costs way more than that. That’s why it’s crucial to have friends with pools. And if you get to any pool without an ice-cold bottle of this, may as well have left your swimsuit at home, both are worth the wound trip back home.

Just the color alone is enough to get you salivating, a bright wild salmon hue with reflections of bright pomegranate. Stunning aromatics cover all bases, there are citrus and stone fruits along with red berries and white pepper. Lights up the palate like 4th of July fireworks, fanning out similar fruits and touches of freshly chopped summer herbs. If it weren’t for the savory and flinty nuances in the back, you would put this in the New World with all its ripe, glorious fruit that lingers just long enough to throw some bacon-wrapped scallop and prawn kebabs on the barbie while it sits on ice.

The Crochet family finely knits some amazing vineyards into lacey wines year in year out and Daniel is no exception to that. The Wine Doctor profiles his home town as “The little village of Bué does not seem to get the same amount of love as its near neighbor Chavignol… this is not a village that serious fans of the appellation should overlook. Indeed, when I peer into the depths of my own cellar, or take a look back over my tasting notes from the last decade or two, the wines of Bué feature just as much as those from Chavignol or from Sancerre itself.”

Continuing “Bué, with is huge expanse of limestone vineyards, is in fact home to numerous noteworthy Domaines. Of the various names associated with this particular corner of Sancerre perhaps the most commonly encountered is Crochet. They are of course all related in some manner or other, being cousins, or nephews, or uncles. Among their number, flying comfortably under the radar is one Daniel Crochet, an experienced vigneron with at least twenty vintages behind him. He tends a bijou Domaine of 10 hectares, including parcels in some of the village’s most prestigious lieux-dits.”

Often overlooked by other critics, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate has only reviewed the 2016, a bit late actually, while raving “Impressive still today, almost 4.5 years after the harvest. Did somebody say Rosé cannot age? I wouldn’t have had this earlier, to be honest… never had any of Daniel Crochet’s wines before, but this is definitely a producer I would always consider to buy.”

We could not agree more!

Excellent - Antonio Galloni’s Vinous

“Lurid orange-pink. Ripe red berry, citrus pith and floral qualities on the deeply perfumed nose. Plush and open-knit, showing good heft to the subtly sweet raspberry and cherry flavors. In an ample style for a pink Sancerre, showing a touch of spiciness on the broad, clinging finish. A strong wine with true character that provides highly enjoyable drinking. This is the sweet spot for values and everyday wines that won’t break the bank.”