Claude Riffault - Sancerre Mosaique Calcaire 2022

At barely 30 years old, Stéphane Riffault (Claude’s son and now the owner of the estate) is turning out Sancerre bottlings that are the envy of many producers twice his age. As David Schildknecht put it, “make no mistake: this address in the hamlet of Maison Salle (Sury-en-Vaux) is now one of the five or six most exciting estates in the Sancerre appellation.” Given that Stephane’s holdings represent 4 tenths of 1 percent of the appellation, this kid is clearly doing something right.

Based in the village of Sury-en-Vaux, the Stéphane Riffault works 33 different parcels in 8 different lieu-dits spread across 4 villages. The 13.5 hectares of vines are plowed, and no synthetic material is used and starting in 2017, the property has been certified organic by ECOCERT and biodynamic by Biodyvin. Unlike most Sancerre producers, the entire harvest is carried out by hand, and extensive sorting occurs before the grapes are crushed. Stéphane’s wife, Benedicte, leads the harvest team while Stéphane manages the sorting and press during harvest.

Most of the domaine’s holdings are planted on the soft limestone soil called Terres Blanches with some parcels on Calliottes and Silex. Small, judicious uses of oak help to add length to the already precise, site-expressive, and vertical bottlings. All of the parcels are vinified separately, and with the exception of the rosé, all the wines are bottled unfiltered.

Having studied and worked in Burgundy (and closely with Olivier Leflaive), it’s easy to see the Burgundian influence in Stéphane’s wines. The mastery of minerality standing shoulder–height with the wood is rarely duplicated in Sancerre. Regardless of his parcels’ exposition (many are south-facing), Riffault’s wines are always crisp and high-cut with a jeweled sort of delineation that speaks to the precision and attention these wines get. These are not your daddy’s (or his daddy, Claude’s) Sancerres.

In 2018 Stéphane Riffault made the decision to release a village-level Sancerre after additional planting that he has undertaken over the last decade on limestone terroirs. It also includes some fruit from Les Boucauds and Les Chasseignes. Aged for 8 months in concrete tanks, vegan.

"The new name for Riffault's Sancerre Blanc, 2022 Mosaïque Calcaire, is the house's main wine, combing up to 20 parcels. It's a supple, almost succulent style with ripe fruit - melon, pear and pineapple. It has a charming tenderness and holds the mouth with comforting reassurance. It remains light on its feet, like a cloud of Sancerre floating. It's ripe, but the alcohol remains moderate, and there's gentle acidity there." - 90 points, Antonio Galloni Vinous

Producer: Claude Riffault

Country: France

Region: Loire Valley

Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc

Appellation: Sancerre

Vintage: 2022

Size: 750ml