Nicolas Girard Sancerre Rose 2022

You may have noticed – but we can’t get enough Nicolas Girard. With the insane demand for all things Sancerre these past several years – Nicolas Girard is our security blanket. We’ve direct imported them for years, and sold megatons of all sorts of their wines, and our customers absolutely love them for both their exceptional quality and their incomparable value. This simply incredible Sancerre rosé is the latest – complex, crisp, and eminently quaffable 100% pinot noir – that we just so happen to have at the best price anywhere!

This iconic Sancerre estate was established in 1875 and lies just outside of the town of Sancerre. The Girard family modernized the winery and vineyards when they bought the estate in 1973, and ever since it has become the base for not only the original estate, Domaine des Brosses – but also the offshoot brands by the new, younger generations of the Girard Clan. Alain Girard, Nicolas’ father, comes from several generations of winemakers in the tiny village of Chaudoux, located directly north of the famous town of Chavignol. Nicolas, alongside his brother, Anthony, has since taken over winemaking duties – and like their father before them – each has their own label, made in slightly different styles, from across the estate’s holdings (and some other unique parcels in surrounding regions like Menetou-Salon). This structure allows each winemaking generation to pursue their own experiments, while still growing within, and eventually re-shaping the house style for the next generation. Together, they are making a stunning portfolio of high-toned wines that are fresh, modern, and aromatically pure.

This exceptionally bright and fresh 100% pinot noir rosé is a light strawberry color with a refreshing nose of myriad red berries. Raspberries, red cherries, strawberries, and red currants, complemented by unique and layered accents of salted watermelon, blood orange, clove, white pepper, and fresh tarragon. Medium weight, but uplifted with a gorgeously intense acidity, this rosé was built for food – with options that are nearly limitless (but my favorite is listed below)! If you’ve had any of the Sancerre offerings from Nicolas Girard – white, red, or rosé – you know what to expect. Classic, pure, and singular bottlings that stand as worthy ambassadors of all things Sancerre.

Approximately 20% of the appellation’s vineyards are planted with pinot noir grapes, the oldest variety in the region – and there is evidence it's been planted in the Loire Valley since the Middle Ages. The Girards, like most of Sancerre’s new generations of top vignerons, follow stricter standards of cellar tidiness and hygiene than the historical methods – making pinot noir-based wines that are both riper, fresher, and far cleaner than what was considered the typical style for generations. It is widely believed to be the influence of local goat cheese makers, traditionally artisanal in scale, and without question people who knew the importance of a pristine environment. This almost medical level of cleanliness lends itself to an extremely pure iteration of rosé that stands among the very best examples in Sancerre...and beyond. All this, for under $20?! Get enough to last you through summer, and thank me later!

PAIRING IDEAS: I paired this with a little King Salmon Zuke atop some fava bean hummus, with an array of pickled beets and radishes, and a drizzle of good olive oil. The tender, umami, lightly sweet fish makes the crisp, intense flavors of the wine shine!