Domaine des Vieux Pruniers is situated a mere 2.5 miles from Sancerre proper in the village of Bué, known for its steep, amphitheater vineyards, where some of the hillsides approach 65° gradients.

Christian Thirot-Fournier, along with his wife and daughter, tend roughly 10 hectares of vines, divided between two varieties: 7 hectares of Sauvignon Blanc planted to chalky limestone soils, and 3 hectares of Pinot Noir grown in clay-limestone soils. Together they raise the wine from start to finish, from growing the grapes to bottling the wines.

They are moving toward a more “sustainable” viticulture regime, and no herbicides are used for the majority of their parcels. The grapes are cold-fermented for 15 days in 100% stainless steel tanks. After several months aging on the fine lees, the wines are fined, filtered and bottled at the domaine.

The Vieux Pruniers Sancerre Blanc and Sancerre Rosé are classic, minerally-laden expressions with flinty, floral notes on the nose and a zesty, fruity palate. These wines overdeliver on every front. We just wish there was more to go around!