2011 Domaine Michel Girard Sancerre Blanc Duo

Tastes like: white peach, pear and kiwifruit
Pairs with: oysters, ceviche or soft, tangy goat cheeses
Good for: entertaining
Drink this: now
Alcohol: 13.5%

2 x 2011 Domaine Michel Girard Sancerre Blanc

Just hearing the word Sancerre makes me thirsty. So you can imagine my need for a glass when I arrived at Domaine Michel Girard, located in the Loire's Sancerre wine region.

Girard's Sancerre is a classic, racy white that exemplifies my ideal. Located in the eastern end of the Loire Valley, the Sancerre AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) has a cool climate and chalky soils. It's famous for its whites, 100 percent Sauvignon Blancs that are mineral-laden and mouthwatering.

The Girard estate, located in Verdigny, a small commune in Sancerre, farms 30 acres of vines and uses a winemaking approach that results in delicious, food-friendly whites with an appealing roundness. The region is also famed for Crottin de Chavignol, a goat cheese that is a perfect pairing for Sancerre.

Tasting Note
Brilliant pale-straw in color, this Sauvignon Blanc has aromas of Meyer lemon, green apple, white flowers and garden herbs. The palate is a bemusing medley of white peach, pear and kiwifruit. In the mouth, fresh-cut grass flavors emerge, leading to a zesty lime finish. This is a perfect match for oysters, ceviche or soft, tangy goat cheeses. Enjoy this wine in its youth to capture the best of its zesty flavors and aromas. (13.5% ABV)

—Nicole Niebisch

Nicole Niebisch has worked in the wine industry for the past decade. She started in New York restaurants as a sommelier and, prior to joining Lot18, spent five years working for Folio Fine Wine Partners, an importer and producer of wines from several of the world's top regions. Nicole holds certificates from the Society of Wine Educators and the American Sommelier Association, and the Diploma in Wine and Spirits from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust. Read more about Nicole here, or follow her on Twitter.