Domaine Hubert Brochard, Sancerre Terroir De Silex, 2023

Grapes

Sauvignon Blanc

Vintage report

The 2023 Loire vintage feels like the region caught a break after several years of climate extremes. Spring arrived gently, without the brutal frosts that have haunted growers in recent seasons, and summer brought the kind of balanced warmth that lets vines ripen steadily rather than sprint to the finish line. We love how this steady rhythm shows in the wines — there's a naturalness to the ripening that translates into vibrant, focused flavours across the board.

What landed in our cellars has that classic Loire precision we're always hunting for, but with more flesh on the bones than some of the leaner years. The Sauvignon Blancs from Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé crackle with mineral energy while actually filling your mouth, and the Chenin Blancs from the middle Loire show beautiful balance between their natural acidity and ripe fruit character. Most of these wines are singing right now — the whites especially have hit that sweet spot where youth and drinkability overlap perfectly. The reds will reward a bit more patience, but honestly, we're already dipping into our allocations because they're so bloody delicious.