Joseph Mellot : Cuvée Pierre Etienne 2020

Tasting notes and serving suggestions for Joseph Mellot’s Cuvée Pierre Étienne 2020

Tasting

Appearance
The wine displays a yellow hue with golden highlights.

Nose
The bouquet is intense and sun-kissed, revealing aromas of mirabelle plums and apricots. Woody, almost spicy notes round out this aromatic palette.

Palate
The attack is broad and fleshy, marked by sun-drenched accents. Toasty notes integrate seamlessly into the whole, alongside lovely fruit. A delicate mineral thread brings the balance this generous palate needs. The finish lingers pleasantly, revealing a saline edge that extends the tasting.

Food and wine pairings

This cuvée pairs perfectly with a plate of sea urchins, scallops accented with lime zest, or sweetbreads. It also goes beautifully with a rack of lamb in a walnut crust. For a cheese pairing, opt for a platter of Crottins de Chavignol or Comté.

Serving and cellaring

Serve the Cuvée Pierre Étienne 2020 between 8 and 10°C to fully appreciate its qualities. Drink through around 2028.

A sun-kissed, mineral Sancerre Blanc from Maison Joseph Mellot

The estate

Rooted in history since 1513 with Pierre-Étienne Mellot, Maison Joseph Mellot is among France’s oldest winegrowing dynasties. Based in Sancerre in the Centre-Loire, it now farms one hundred hectares of vines spread across the region’s eight appellations. Under the leadership of Catherine Corbeau-Mellot and her sons Armand and Adrien since 2005, it remains the only estate to vinify all the Centre-Loire appellations. Certified Haute Valeur Environnementale, the house shines in more than forty countries.

The vineyard

This historic cuvée comes from a 0.8-hectare plot planted with Sauvignon Blanc on a flinty clay terroir typical of Sancerre. The vines, averaging thirty-five years old, are farmed using sustainable practices, with mechanical soil work.

The vintage

The year 2020 begins with a mild, rainy winter. Spring is warm and sunny, heralding a very hot summer punctuated by heatwaves. Autumn continues this trend with sunny, very warm weather, allowing the grapes to reach fine ripeness.

Winemaking and aging

After direct pressing in a pneumatic press with juice selection, the Cuvée Pierre Étienne 2020 undergoes cold settling. Fermentation takes place in fine-grained oak barrels from the Bertranges and Saint-Palais forests. Aging continues for eleven months in barrel with regular lees stirring, followed by a minimum of ten months in tank before bottling.

Grape variety

This Loire white wine is 100% Sauvignon Blanc.