“Any bottling from Domaine Laporte is a very wise bet.” – Wine Spectator

There’s more to Sancerre than the famous whites, Ops!

Just like their benchmark examples of Sauvignon Blanc that are in high demand globally, this small but mighty village in the Loire Valley also churns out equally delectable Pinot Noir, both red and rosé.

Case in point. For just $26 today, you get to brag about being the one who drinks the cool pink Sancerre. We might be in a cold snap now, but the near future holds sunshine, warmth, and refreshing pours of THIS - the ultimate Loire Summer sipper. Heck, it might just be the perfect thing to snap that SAD streak, as it practically radiates life-affirming sunshine itself!

We listened to Wine Spectator and jumped on as much as we could of several vintages at this price. “Tip: Any bottling from Domaine Laporte is a very wise bet,” they wrote, “Founded in 1850 by René Laporte and purchased by the family of Henri Bourgeois in the 1980s, the Domaine holds some of the finest vineyards in the appellation, and it has always pursued quality over quantity (a move that came more recently for other houses). Laporte’s cuvées offer elegance, structure, and vibrant intensity.”

Legend has it that this singular site has roots in the 12th century, when Etienne, the Count of Sancerre, gifted this prized slope in Ménétréol to the religious order of Grandmontains, who planted it.

A long track record of impressive vintages, with notes like this one from Wine Advocate that goes, “From a south-facing slope on ‘caillottes,’ Laporte’s Sancerre Rosé Les Grandmontains is a salmon colored, beautifully aromatic Pinot Noir with red berry and floral aromas on the elegant and spicy nose. Round and intense on the palate, this is an elegant, dense and pleasant rosé with a nice mouthfeel and a long and fruit-intense finish. It’s an excellent Sancerre that was left on its fine lees until bottling.”

Mic to Vinous for another opinion praises the “ripe citrus fruits, red berries and pungent flowers on the expansive, mineral-accented nose. Silky and concentrated on the palate, displaying excellent clarity to its juicy raspberry, orange zest, and honeysuckle flavors. The floral and mineral notes drive an impressively long, seamless finish that shows emphatic red berry character and strong persistence.”

A Decanter review similarly raves about “red berry fruit, strawberry and spice to start, following on along with vibrant acidity, a hint of leafy tannin and a long, mouthwatering, salty finish.” Basically, you get the zing of a great white Sancerre with all the pure cool climate fruit of a red Sancerre in one. Imagine the pairings: salmon, duck, lamb, prawns, grilled, simmered, sauteed, fried. BRING IT ON!

What’s there not to like, except for the clock we’re up against before sellout!

91 Points – Wine Enthusiast “Fresh red cherry and prairie grass aromas lift from the glass, followed by dried white blossom and dusty forest floor. The palate unveils additional flavors of white strawberry and cranberry that dip their toe in pomegranate.”