Vincent Gaudry Sancerre Le Tournebride 2020

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Vincent Gaudry Sancerre Le Tournebride 2020  Front Bottle Shot
Vincent Gaudry Sancerre Le Tournebride 2020  Front Bottle Shot Vincent Gaudry Sancerre Le Tournebride 2020  Front Label

Product Details


Varietal

Region

Producer

Vintage
2020

Size
750ML

ABV
14%

Features
Green Wine

Your Rating

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Somm Note

Winemaker Notes

Aromas of wet stones and white flowers set the stage. Zingy lemon and citrus notes lead to unexpected depth and richness on the palate.

Professional Ratings

  • 92
    From 35-year-old vines planted on the hills of the commune of Sancerre, Saint-Satur and Sury-en-Vaux, the 2020 "Straight Outta" Sancerre Tournebride (identical with the Sancerre Le Tournebride) assembles all three Sancerre terroirs: terres blanches (Kimmeridgian marl), caillottes (weathered limestone) and flint (silex). Fermented in wooden casks and stainless steel and aged for about 10 months on the lees, this opens with a clear, rich and initially a bit lactic bouquet of ripe, white fruits (even honeydew melon aromas are displayed) and a hint of mocha. With more aeration, the nose becomes fresher and more citric as well as complex and mineral. On the palate, this is a full-bodied, elegant and refined but most of all generous and textural Sancerre with juice and power but also mineral grip and tension. I find the Tournebride a bit less pure and dramatic compared to the Mélodie, but it will probably satisfy more palates.
    Rating: 92+
Vincent Gaudry

Vincent Gaudry

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Vincent Gaudry, France
Vincent Gaudry Vincent and Séverine Gaudry Winery Image

For those in the know, Vincent Gaudry has been handcrafting some of the most essential, soulful wines of the Loire River Valley for over 30 years in his craftsman cellar in the tiny hamlet of Chambre near Sury-en-Vaux, Sancerre. These days, it may be easy to overlook Sancerre as a simple Parisian bistro wine or dismiss sauvignon blanc for the intellectual credentials of chenin blanc; however, one visit with Vincent Gaudry turns those who meet him into true believers. A journey through the Sancerre terroir with a virtuoso like Vincent is akin to stepping through an unmarked door into a hidden universe filled with colors, flavors, and textures one did not previously know existed. We refer to Vincent Gaudry as the "last Jedi of Sancerre," due to his mastery of the complexities of the Sancerre terroir and his humble transparency and insight when speaking about his deeply held beliefs regarding the power of the earth and energy exchange between himself, his vineyards, and wines. Vincent is a true minimalist whose guiding principle is "Trust in Nature." Gaudry wines are in tune with the elements, instilling a feeling of being profoundly connected to the land. Driven by his deep respect for the wisdom of past generations of local vignerons, Gaudry’s wines are inspired by history and, as a result, are among the most transparent, soulful, and authentic in the region.

The domaine was established by Vincent’s grandfather with only a few hectares of vines before being passed to Vincent’s father, Georges, who gradually enlarged the estate to 9.5 hectares. Vincent was only 16 years old when he joined his father in the family business in 1991, taking over entirely in 1993 when his father fell unexpectedly ill. Today, he and his wife Séverine, who handles the administrative aspects of the domaine, farm 11 hectares of vineyards with organic, biodynamic, and regenerative practices. Getting rid of the chemicals in the vineyard became the first priority for young Vincent. He immediately began converting to organic farming in 1995, obtaining organic certification in 2002. With a desire to go even further, he developed a deep appreciation for biodynamic farming and the balance it brought to his vineyards. He began farming his vineyards with biodynamic principles in 2000, becoming the first producer in Sancerre with a Demeter certification in 2004. Witnessing firsthand the positive relationship between the vineyards, forests, and their animal inhabitants brought on by his regenerative agricultural practices, Vincent works with nature and a sober pragmatism to maintain a balance in his vineyards and wine.

Gaudry’s vineyards are planted on all three predominant Sancerre terroirs: silex (flinty soils: structure, length, and lift), which runs in a narrow band along a fault line passing underneath the town of Sancerre; terres blanches (Kimmeridgian clay-limestone marl: mouthfeel); and caillottes (hard, weathered Oxfordian limestone: nose, aromatics); as well as other minor soil types that are often not talked about in the oversimplification of Sancerre’s terroir. At harvest, whole clusters are hand harvested in small baskets. In the cellar, Vincent remains a traditionalist as he looks for a balance between varietal and terroir. The domain’s impeccable farming is preserved through a slow, intentional process and an élevage that favors patience and transparency. Most fermentations are done in temperature-controlled stainless steel and a few in barrels, all with native yeasts and minimal sulfur. The wines are then aged on lees without bâtonnage and are bottled unfined and unfiltered, according to the lunar calendar. The result is precisely-delineated wines with stony minerality, concentration, texture, weight, complexity, and a lengthy, vibrant finish.

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Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.

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Sancerre Wine

Loire, France

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Marked by its charming hilltop village in the easternmost territory of the Loire, Sancerre is famous for its racy, vivacious, citrus-dominant Sauvignon blanc. Its enormous popularity in 1970s French bistros led to its success as the go-to restaurant white around the globe in the 1980s.

While the region claims a continental climate, noted for short, hot summers and long, cold winters, variations in topography—rolling hills and steep slopes from about 600 to 1,300 feet in elevation—with great soil variations, contribute the variations in character in Sancerre Sauvignon blancs.

In the western part of the appellation, clay and limestone soils with Kimmeridgean marne, especially in Chavignol, produce powerful wines. Moving closer to the actual town of Sancerre, soils are gravel and limestone, producing especially delicate wines. Flint (silex) soils close to the village produce particularly perfumed and age-worthy wines.

About ten percent of the wines claiming the Sancerre appellation name are fresh and light red wines made from Pinot noir and to a lesser extent, rosés. While not typically exported in large amounts, they are well-made and attract a loyal French following.

EWLFRGAUSTB20_2020 Item# 1192958

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