Alphonse Mellot : Génération XIX 2018

The richness and freshness of a Sancerre wine by Alphonse Mellot

The estate

At the beginning of the 19th century, Alphonse Mellot set up his family home in Sancerre, which has since passed down father to son.

Already, from the 16th century, local archives mention the Mellot family as well-known winegrowers and merchants. According to the story, King Louis XIV, in 1698, chose César Mellot as his wine adviser.

The eldest son in each generation takes the founder’s name. This is how, today, Alphonse Mellot father and son keep this wine-growing tradition going and produce great quality Sancerre wines from a vineyard of more than 30 hectares on one piece of land.

The vineyard

Génération XIX 2018 is a Sancerre wine that stems from the oldest vines of La Moussière Conduit, cultivated biologically and biodynamically. This vineyard of about one hectare, with 87-year-old vines, rests on a soil made up of stony marls facing south/south-west.

Winemaking and ageing

Once the harvest was done, the grapes were selected on a sorting table then sent to be pressed whole by pneumatic press. After a static settling of about 48 hours at a low temperature of 10°C, fermentation took place in a tapered 900-litre vat. Ageing on fine lees for this Loire wine took on average 10-12 months before bottling on the estate.

Blend

Sauvignon blanc (100%)

Characteristics and tasting tips for Sancerre Génération XIX 2018 from Alphonse Mellot

Tasting

Colour
The colour is of a beautiful pale yellow gold, with light green higlights.

Nose
Completely fresh and mature, the nose gives honey and lemon notes, with a touch of menthol and acacia, followed by scents of dried fruit, St George’s mushroom and almost iodine. On aeration, the bouquet develops into beeswax, gingerbread and lemon notes.

Palate
Full and fresh, the palate is bold from the attack, then unveiling toasted hazelnut notes. The finish, rich and complex, gives an iodised touch with a subtle organic bitterness (muscat grape, boxwood).

To serve

For the best tasting, serve between 10 et 12°C, or, when paired, between 12 et 14°C.

Food and wine pairings

This wine goes perfectly with shellfish (oysters, mussels, clams, langoustines), fish (Loire pike with salt crust, monkfish with pink garlic), but also with any fresh or blue goat’s cheese, and desserts (apricot tart).