2017 La Grange Dimière

The Roger family has been farming in the village of Bué since the 17th century, but it wasn’t until 1972 that Jean-Max Roger focused on wine production with the 4-ha left to him by his parents. Roger then increased the domaine’s holdings to its current size of 35 hectares. Now run by sons Etienne and Thibault, the jovial, rugby-loving pair produce wines not only in Sancerre but also in the neighbouring Menetou-Salon appellation and across the river in Pouilly Fumé. They make a range of accessible, classically-styled, fresh wines with the lieux dits of La Côte de Bué and Le Grand Chemarin marking a real step up in quality. These vineyards are highly prized therefore handling is gentler. At the same time, 60% of the Roger family’s harvest is picked by machine; these finer parcels are hand-harvested, wild fermented and partially fermented in barrels.