Producer
Lucien Crochet’s great-grandfather married into the Picard family, who had been winegrowers in Sancerre since 1765, and thus laid the foundations of Domaine Lucien Crochet. The estate now owns thirtyone hectares of vineyards planted in various parts of four communes in the Sancerre appellation, including the largest single holding of vineyard property in Bué. Hand-harvesting – a rarity in Sancerre – and the use of indigenous yeasts give particularly nuanced, elegant wines.
Vineyard
The soil on the east, south-east and south-west facing vineyards is a mixture of Oxfordian limestone, white earth and Kimmeridgian marls. All grapes were hand picked.
Winery
Whole bunches of grapes were transferred to pneumatic presses on a conveyor belt, in order to avoid bruising on the skins. After cold settling, the must underwent fermentation in thermo-regulated tanks for approximately thirty days with frequent stirring. The wine was racked late, and bottled a few months later.
