Domaine Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Red Generation XIX 2015

Wine Region: Loire Valley - France 

Grape: Cabernet Franc

Tasting notes:

​​The Génération cuvée is produced in a small one-hectare plot from vines over 60 years old. Domaine Alphonse Mellot cultivates its vines organically and biodynamically. The grapes are harvested by hand before being sorted several times. A cold maceration is carried out for 10 days in order to retain only the most delicate tannins and aromas from the Pinot Noir. After fermentation, the juices are matured in new casks for over a year. It has a deep, ruby red colour and a bouquet of blackberry, blueberry and morello cherry aromas.

Maturation notes can be detected, though they are perfectly integrated with those of red fruits. With just 2,800 bottles produced per year, the Génération XIX cuvée is a rare elixir. It has immense cellaring potential, you can count on several decades. It will pair nicely with a mushroom fricassé. 

About the winery:

In 2013, this historic estate celebrated its 500th anniversary – 19 successive generations of winegrowers in the Mellot family. Today Alphonse Jr. is in total charge, having taken over the reigns from his father Alphonse Sr. fully fifteen years ago. The property, known as La Moussiere, is now at the height of quality for white wines world-wide. All farming is organic and certified biodynamic, with an elite team in the vineyards focused on low yields and ideal ripeness. Their Sauvignons have acquired a rare precision and each parcel is well-defined, perhaps even more so with the reds.