2020 Réserve de Marcigoué

Located in Bué, François Crochet has 12 hectares in total with vines predominantly around his home village and across the appellation to Sury-en-Vaux, Verdigny and Thauvenay, where he has a parcel on flint soils. Crochet has vines in several renowned lieux dits in Bué, including Petit Chemarin, Grand Chemarin and Le Chêne Marchand, which are limestone-based (calcaire/griottes/terres blanches), providing tenderness on the mid-palate with a fine chalky veil on the finish. Each of these has its own personality: Le Petit Chemarin has a higher proportion of clay in the soil giving roundness in addition to the winemaking influence of 18 months in large foudres on lees, while Le Chêne Marchand shows great power. Grapes are hand harvested and whole bunch pressed making for pure, delicate quality with lower thiols, leading to restrained fruit characters and impeccable clarity throughout the range. Since 2019, only wild yeasts have been used in the winery. The vineyards are farmed both organically (certified) and biodynamically (in conversion). Crochet also makes three deftly handled red Sancerres with as much as 100% whole bunch for Les Marnes 2019 while the top cuvée Reserve de Marcigoué is a more restrained, one-third whole bunch and gently matured in large format oak.