Vincent Pinard

“Vincent Pinard and his two sons share a winemaking heritage that can be traced back several centuries in and around Bué, and their family tree begins in the early years of the 17th century, long before the French Revolution rocked this nation, and well before the slopes around Sancerre were carpeted with Sauvignon Blanc.” thewinedoctor.com

NEW WINES - Pinard Brothers

Tiny amounts of 3 wines produced in 2023 from terroirs that are worked (but not owned) by the Vincent Pinard family.

In 2023, due to nature’s huge yields, the Pinards green harvested as much as 35% of the crop to allow the vine to concentrate its efforts or the equivalent of 28hl/ha. Thus, its first two white releases from 2023, Florès and Nuance, show more concentration than most, while its 2023 Rosé is a real gem. The 2022s are much more concentrated, tender and round while still retaining tension. Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous Media, July 2024

Pinard Brothers Sancerre Echoes - NEW
This first wine comes from the vines of their cousin Jean-Vincent Pinard in the village of Amigny which is located between Bué and Chavignol. The vineyard is worked organically (not yet certified). Vinification for this wine is similar to that of Florès, using their own natural yeast, ageing in large neutral wooden vats for 6 months, minimal sulphur during élevage (volcanic sulphur, handmade by the Pinards).

2023 Bottled without fining in April 2024 it shows great finesse and is deliciously approachable now with an intriguing note of tangerine and a hint of phenolics making for a beautifully structured Sancerre.

Pinard Brothers Sancerre La Moussière
This parcel is managed by the Pinard brothers where they do the organic and bio-dynamic treatments themselves. The vineyard is certified organic and owned by a friend who worked with the Pinard brothers for some years. La Moussière is on Kimmeridgian soil not far from Bué. The vines are over 50 years old and enjoy a full-south exposition. Vinified with the Pinards own natural yeast and aged in large Tonnellerie Lacroix oak. This first vintage is due for bottling in October. To be released late 2024 and due in Australia in early 2025.

Pinard Brothers Sancerre Les Grands Champs
This parcel is also managed by the Pinard brothers where they do the organic and bio-dynamic treatments themselves. The vineyard is certified organic and owned by a friend who worked with the Pinard brothers for some years. Les Grands Champs is on Kimmeridgian soil and adjoins La Moussière. The vines are over 40 years old and enjoy a south to south-south-east exposure. Vinified with the Pinards own natural yeast and aged in Amphora, demi-muid and stainless steel vat. This first vintage is due for bottling around October. To be released late 2024 and due in Australia in early 2025.

The ‘Village’ (Estate) Wine

Sancerre Florès
2023 has produced a brilliant set of vibrant and concentrated wines at Vincent Pinard, and this is the flag-bearer which can be found in many of France’s 3 star restaurants, some of which have been pouring and listing it for 50 years or more. Which only serves to highlight the consistency of the domaine, from Vincent’s father’s tenure, right through Vincent’s and now on to that of his sons Florent and Clément. Fruit for Florès is selected from their younger vines (but now pushing 40 years old!) around Bué, all estate owned. The key vineyards are Emois, Vallons, Petit Chemarin, Le Bourg, Crépon, Dargente and Bois Brulés. From the 2020 vintage onward the wine is fermented in a minimum of 95 % large oak cask and 5 % stainless steel, as the brothers have progressively increased the use of large oak over the last several years. The result is a wine that is still crisp and racy in the classic Sancerre style, but also with more texture, depth and complexity than it had 10 years ago.

2023 ‘The 2023 Florés is a success in a challenging year. A rigorous green harvest might have been the defining factor - the Pinards green harvested as much as 35% of the crop to allow the vine to concentrate its efforts or the equivalent of 28hl/ha. The result is a greatly refreshing Sancerre with pear, pineapple and elderflower flavors. There's a hint of flesh tenderness and a supple character. An appealing chalk texture resides on the gently refreshing, ripe acid rather than a racy finish.’ 89 points, Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous, July 2024.

The ‘Premier Cru’

Sancerre Nuance - SOLD OUT
From 40 year-old vines grown on Caillottes terroir (small stones over limestone) in Bué, selected from the vineyards of La Thibaude, Les Garennes and Les Grands Champs, Nuance is one of the domaine’s ‘Premier Cru’ wines. The fruit is hand picked, hand sorted and then whole-bunch pressed to tank for a cool, slow fermentation over about 4 weeks. The wine is aged on fine lees for 9 months in equal portions of stainless steel tanks, older barriques and demi-muids (600 L). This shows a big step up in texture and intensity, with a hint of smokiness on the nose and fine chalky minerality on the palate.

The ‘Grand Crus’ (Single Vineyard Wines)

Sancerre Le Château
A new single vineyard cuvée since 2015. The lieu-dit of Le Château sits on a south facing slope above Bué and the domaine’s plot was planted in 1968 and 1972. Here the soil is Kimmeridgian marl (limestone and clay), which is a bit of a rarity in Bué, where most of the terroir is the more gravelly Oxfordian limestone. The fruit is hand-picked, hand-sorted and then whole-bunch pressed to 600 litre demi-muids for fermentation, followed by 9 months maturation on fine lees. A stunning wine of notable intensity and complexity which benefits from decanting and the finest stemware. Served blind this will challenge and more than compete in a line-up of fine white Burgundies. A very substantial wine with great energy and the structure to age effortlessly.
2022 “The 2022 Le Château is a finely poised style offering both tension and tenderness. Yes, the fruit is ripe with a lemon barley nature and elderflower, but it also retains a gentle freshness that's backed up by a fine, chalky line and rich structure. The 2022 is a relatively quiet wine and will come into its own as it progresses in bottle. A Sancerre that needs food.” 94 points, Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous Media, July 2024.

Sancerre Grand Chemarin
2022 “A precise, salty white, the 2022 Grand Chemarin spends a year in demi-muids on lees. It has a rich, youthful plumpness and flesh that comes from the warm vintage and a creamy texture. Ripe peach flavors speak of a warmer location, but it's held in place by a fine belt of tension that the site's chalk can explain. It finishes with great momentum.”
93 points, Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous Media, July 2024.

Sancerre Chêne Marchand
2022 “The 2022 Chêne Marchand is a richly fruited wine offering creamy notes and ripe peach fruit. While it's an opulent style for a Sancerre, it never becomes heavy, plus it has an almost tannic edge, providing a frame and reassuring structure that grips the palate, suggesting that this has longevity. There's a fine, briny character throughout. Having tasted the killer 1996 vintage a few minutes afterward, you can be sure this wine has a long life ahead.” 93 points, Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous Media, July 2024.

2021 Sancerre Chêne Marchand - last bottles
“The 2021 Sancerre Chêne Marchand is a powerful, long-lived style with masses of concentration inside a mid-weight package. There is a ripeness of almost tropical fruit alongside nectarines and a touch of green gooseberry. A light creamy flavour joins the fruit. It is impressive structured and firm. This will go the distance. Drink 2023-2033.” 95 points, Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous Media, July 2023.

Sancerre rouge (100% Pinot Noir)

While Sancerre has gained fame and notority for its classic fine Sauvignon Blancs for the last 80-100 years, Pinot Noir has always been found and nurtured in these cool chalky hills providing ideal conditions for wonderfully fragrant fine and complex Pinot Noir that are increasingly being grown made and matured in a similar manner to top red Burgundies.
Vincent Pinard has always been amongst the best Pinot Noir producers of this region and has a cult like following for these among top sommeliers in the very best restaurants in France. As a result these are usually only found on the best wines lists of the best restaruants throughout France as quantities are quite limited and demand within France is very strong for these wines.
Recent years has seen the introduction of whole bunch into ferments bringing even more finesse and structure to the seriously fine reds which the brothers have been developing ovcer the last 2 decades working closely with friends in some of Burgundies top estates in the Cotes de Nuits.

Sancerre rouge
2022 Pure and sophisticated, the 2022 Sancerre Rouge results from a blend of parcels matured in oak for 12 months (no new wood). Delicately handled with fine tannins, this is a silken, seamless wine. Chalky subsoils help imbue fine tannins and freshness. The 2022 is biodynamic and totally destemmed; no sulfur is added during vinification. It is unadulterated with no fining and no filtration. Tasted from magnum. 91 points, Vinous Media, Rebecca Gibb MW, July 2024

Sancerre rouge Charlouise
2022 The 2022 Charlouise offers a brooding nose with a touch of volatility joining the pure fruit—all red cherries. It's pure and suave with gorgeous chalky tannins. Integrated oak gives additional layers of flavor and interest (16 months in wood, only 10% new). No added sulfur lends a gentleness. It's concentrated and rich, and while it can be approached, it has enough essence to see it for a decade or more. 93 points, Vinous Media, Rebecca Gibb MW, July 2024

Sancerre rouge Vendanges Entiere
2022 The 2022 Vendange Entière, meaning "whole bunch" in French, refers to the way the wine is produced - by putting the whole bunches of Pinot Noir into the fermentation vessel without crushing the grapes first. They've chosen to do it for this cuvée off clay-chalk soils; pure chalk would make the wine too tight. The result is an aromatic red Sancerre capturing red fruit and herbal and medicinal characteristics. This technique also gives the tannin structure an attractive furry note and more grip and savoriness. Overall, it's supple and, while light on its feet, provides a broadness that flows across the palate. The long finish is savory and lightly spiced with clove and festive spices joining the red fruit and damsons. The 2022 is very young and needs time. 92 points, Vinous Media, Rebecca Gibb MW, July 2024

Sancerre rouge cuvee Narpi
2022 There was no Narpi in 2021 nor Pinot Noir Vendange Entière, so this is a welcome return for Pinot Noir in 2022. It's a silken, caressing style with excellent chalkiness infusing its core. It's rich in fruit and offers ripe concentration with tannins. Very gently handled: gravity-fed with no pumping, fining or filtration. That's reflected in the delicacy and gentle texture. Pure red cherry fruit and delicate spices linger on the long finish. Swoon. 93 points, Vinous Media, Rebecca Gibb MW, July 2024