Domaine Dominique & Janine Crochet


Appellation: Sancerre

Proprietor: Crochet Family

Year Founded: 1992

Size: 13.5 hectares

Farming Practice: Organic



Wines:

White

Varietal/Blend: Sauvignon

Vineyard Area: From young vines and those up to 30-year-old vines mainly in Bué and two smaller plots in Sury-en-Vaux and Bannon.

Soil: 50% fine, pebbly limestone mixtures from Bué (mostly "Caillotes" and a little bit of Griottes"), 30% clay-limestone ("Terres Blanches") in Sur-en-Vaux, and 20% flint ("Silex") in Bannon.

Elevation: 275 meters

Exposure: Southeast-south-southwest

Vinification: Manual harvest, pneumatic press with fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks (blocking malolactic fermentation)

Maturation: 6-7 months on fine lees in stainless steel with once per week bâtonnage for two months.


Marketing Materials:

White

Varietal/Blend: Sauvignon

Vineyard Area: From a single plot of 40-year-old vines in the Bué cru of Le Grand Chemarin.

Soil: "Caillotes" (larger limestone pebbles mixed with fine clay)

Elevation: 250-300 meters

Exposure: South

Farming Practice: Organic

Vinification: Grapes are hand-harvested and sorted before undergoing gentle pressing. Fermentation takes place with native yeasts in tonneaux which is where the wine stays for the entirety of its maturation.

Maturation: 12 months in demi-muids (600-liter Tonneaux)

White

Varietal/Blend: Sauvignon

Vineyard Area: The wine comes from a tiny plot in Le Chêne Marchand, which is among Sancerre's most famous vineyards, known for fine combinations of "Caillotes" and "Griottes" coupled with excellent, southerly sun exposure.

Soil: "Griottes" (small limestone pebbles mixed with very fine clay)

Elevation: 240 to 260 meters

Exposure: South

Vinification: Grapes are hand-harvested and sorted before undergoing gentle pressing. Fermentation takes place with native yeasts in tonneaux which is where the wine stays for the entirety of its maturation.

Maturation: 12 months in demi-muids (600-liter Tonneaux)

Red

Varietal/Blend: Pinot Noir

Vineyard Area: From various clay-rich plots in Bué and Sury-en-Vaux

Soil: "Terres Blanches" (clay-limestone soils)

Elevation: 225 meters on average

Exposure: Southeast-south-southwest

Vinification: Harvested by hand and fully destemmed before a 10-day to two-week maceration and fermentation. Pump-overs are performed twice daily with gentle pushdowns if needed. The wine is then racked off the skins and move to foudres and smaller barrels. Malolactic conversion occurs in barrel.

Maturation: 9-11 months

Rosé

Varietal/Blend: Pinot Noir

Vineyard Area: Of the Crochet's 3.5 hectares of Pinot Noir vines, the plots selected for Rosé come mostly from the Bannon, which is directly south of the town of Sancerre and slightly below the latitude of Bué.

Soil: Silex

Elevation: 275 meters

Exposure: Southeast-south-southwest

Vinification: Manual harvest, direct press of grapes and fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks

Maturation: 6 months in stainless steel