Domaine du Carrou Sancerre Les Deserts 2022

One of my greatest wine trips ever was to the Loire Valley to learn from the ‘Master of Terroir’ himself, Dominique Roger. It was an incredible one on one education on the differences of soil throughout Sancerre, followed by a traditional French dinner cooked by Dominique’s wife where we casually tasted 20 different vintages of Sancerre Blanc and Rouge. It was life-changing.

Before that, I may have thought too generally of Sancerre as just a simple, enjoyable and crisp white that offers incredible value, food friendliness and consistency. But I changed my tune forever after walking through the vineyards with Dominique, freezing my butt off and getting schooled for hours.

Each site offered incredibly different soil and exposure just like in Burgundy. We walked through one vineyard that was so filled with chalk rock that the ground looked like the desert floor. You want to know why your wine tastes like minerals? It couldn’t have been any more clear!

Dominique said that he bottled this vineyard separately and naturally calls it Les Deserts. Once we were back in the cellar, I asked him if I could taste the 2022 Les Deserts from the tank. Wow! Dead ringer for Premier Cru Chablis. It was that complex. How could I confuse Sauvignon Blanc with Chardonnay?? Well, it makes sense as the vines of Les Deserts are rooted in Kimmeridgian rock, the same soil you find in the best vineyards of Chablis.