2023 Paul Prieur et Fils, Sancerre, Monts Damnes

Paul Prieur is an old Verdigny domaine with deep holdings in Sancerre, but this bottle comes from Chavignol’s Monts Damnés, arguably Sancerre’s greatest vineyard site – it’s a south-facing slope and the steepest vineyard in Sancerre. The name means “damned mountains,” a nod to how punishingly steep the slope is to work.

Luc Prieur is the 11^th generation to run this historic property!  He farms organically, harvests by hand, and gives this wine a more serious élevage than standard Sancerre: about 15 months, mostly in a 16-hL wooden tank with the rest in 600L barrel. He is committed to organic viticulture and low-intervention winemaking, he ferments with native yeasts in large wooden casks (very old-school style) and raises the wines in neutral, used barrels. This allows the grapes' natural flavors and terroir to shine through. The soils are Kimmeridgian marl, the same fossil-rich clay-limestone band that runs through parts of Chablis. 

This is the kind of Sancerre that reminds people why the category became famous in the first place. Monts Damnés brings extra depth and grip without losing the snap that makes Sauvignon Blanc so satisfying. A killer bottle that will put a smile on any Sancerre lover’s face, especially next to goat cheese, shellfish or roast chicken with lemon. ’23 is a charming, approachable vintage you can enjoy now and for the years to come.