A serious, concentrated, and beautifully textured single-vineyard Sancerre, showing a deeper, more gastronomic side of Sauvignon Blanc.
The 2022 Grand Chemarin combines ripe pear, green apple and stone fruit with candied citrus, white flowers and subtle brioche. Beneath the generous fruit lies the distinctive limestone tension of Bué, giving the wine freshness, precision and a long, mineral finish.
Richer and more complex than a classic young Sancerre, this is Sauvignon Blanc with texture, depth and genuine aging potential.
Region: Loire Valley, France
Appellation: Sancerre AOP
Vintage: 2022
Producer: Domaine Merlin-Cherrier
Vineyard: Grand Chemarin, Bué
Grape: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Alcohol: 13% ABV
Soil: Caillottes – very stony Oxfordian limestone
Exposure: Elevated plateau with predominantly southern exposure
Élevage: Combination of tank and large-format/neutral oak
Style: Dry White Wine
Grand Chemarin sits high above the village of Bué, on an elevated plateau with exceptionally shallow, stony limestone soils.
The abundance of small limestone pebbles and limited topsoil naturally create a wine with concentration, tension and pronounced mineral character.
Nose:
Complex and expressive, opening with ripe pear, baked green apple and stone fruit, followed by candied lemon, honeysuckle and delicate white flowers.
With air, subtle notes of brioche, cream and mineral stone begin to emerge.
Palate:
Broad and beautifully textured for a Sauvignon Blanc. Ripe pear, apple and stone fruit are balanced by citrus freshness and a firm limestone-driven mineral core.
A gentle creaminess runs through the mid-palate, but the wine remains energetic and precise.
Structure:
Medium-bodied with impressive concentration and a refined, slightly creamy texture. Fresh acidity and limestone tension provide excellent balance and prevent the wine from ever feeling heavy.
Finish:
Long, elegant, and mineral, with citrus, orchard fruit, and subtle saline notes lingering beautifully.
Grand Chemarin is one of Domaine Merlin-Cherrier's most distinctive Sancerre expressions.
The domaine had cultivated Sauvignon Blanc in this historic Bué lieu-dit for many years before deciding to bottle Grand Chemarin separately, allowing the personality of the vineyard to take center stage.
Its elevated position, thin topsoil and exceptionally stony limestone create a Sauvignon Blanc with considerably more concentration and mineral structure than a straightforward regional expression.
The winemaking is equally ambitious. A portion of the wine is matured in wood, bringing additional texture and aromatic complexity without disguising the character of Sauvignon Blanc.
The 2022 beautifully demonstrates what serious Sancerre can become: ripe and concentrated, creamy yet fresh, mineral and exceptionally elegant.
This is less about overt Sauvignon Blanc aromatics and more about terroir, texture and complexity.
The 2022 vintage produced an especially generous expression of Grand Chemarin.
Ripe orchard and stone fruits dominate the youthful profile, with pear, green apple and citrus complemented by floral notes and subtle brioche.
The warmer character of the vintage provides richness and concentration, while Grand Chemarin's limestone soils preserve the acidity and mineral tension necessary to keep the wine beautifully balanced.
Now with several years of bottle development, the wine is beginning to move beyond youthful Sauvignon Blanc fruit and reveal more complex creamy, savory, and mineral characteristics.
Drink now – 2034
The 2022 is entering an excellent drinking period now, particularly for those who appreciate Sauvignon Blanc with some bottle development.
Over the coming years, expect the youthful pear, apple, and citrus characteristics to gradually develop toward preserved lemon, hazelnut, beeswax, brioche, and more pronounced savory-mineral notes.
This is a Sancerre worth following over several years rather than automatically drinking young.
Serving Temperature: 11–13°C
Avoid serving excessively cold. Grand Chemarin has considerably more texture and complexity than a simple aperitif-style Sancerre and becomes much more expressive as it warms slightly in the glass.
Grand Chemarin's added concentration and texture let it pair with richer dishes than a typical Sauvignon Blanc.
Excellent with:
Oysters · Scallops · Langoustines · Lobster · Crab · Turbot · Dover Sole · Sea Bass · Roast Chicken · Veal · Asparagus · Goat Cheese · Comté · Wild Mushrooms
Pair with seared scallops, roasted turbot or grilled Caribbean lobster.
The wine has enough texture to complement richer seafood preparations, while its limestone acidity and mineral character provide the freshness necessary to keep the pairing precise.
For something more traditional, pair it with Crottin de Chavignol or another fine Loire goat cheese.
For a more ambitious dinner pairing, try roast chicken with morels. The developing brioche and savory characteristics of the 2022 work beautifully with the mushrooms, while the Sauvignon Blanc's acidity keeps the dish fresh.
This is a Sancerre I would treat more like fine white Burgundy than a simple Sauvignon Blanc—serve it in a larger white-wine glass, not too cold, and give it time to open.
