Classic Sancerre with energy, texture and chalky precision

Pascal & Nicolas Reverdy’s Terre de Maimbray 2023 is the kind of Sauvignon Blanc that shows exactly why Sancerre has become a reference point for the grape. It is bright and mouth-watering, but not sharp; aromatic, but never loud. Citrus, white flowers and fresh herbs lead into a generous mid-palate, a cool mineral line and a long, gently spicy finish.

Made from fruit grown around the small hamlet of Maimbray, this is a confident, food-friendly white with enough texture for the table and enough freshness to make the next glass feel inevitable.

What is Sancerre?

Sancerre is a historic wine appellation in the eastern Loire Valley, where Sauvignon Blanc is the star. The region’s cool climate and limestone-rich soils give the wines their signature combination of citrus freshness, fine aromatics and mineral tension. Rather than the overtly tropical style sometimes associated with Sauvignon Blanc, classic Sancerre is more restrained: think lemon, white peach, fresh herbs, flowers and stone.

Terre de Maimbray is labelled Sancerre AOC, meaning the grapes are grown and the wine is made within the appellation under its strict production rules. It is a clear, characterful expression of both the variety and its place.

Discover Loire Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc can be exuberant, but in Sancerre it often speaks in a quieter, more precise voice. The grape’s natural acidity brings energy, while the local soils add savoury, chalky and saline notes. Here, the fruit sits in the citrus and orchard-fruit spectrum: zesty lemon, green apple and white peach, lifted by white flowers and a hint of freshly cut herbs.

The result is dry, clean and beautifully balanced. It has the freshness you want from Sauvignon Blanc, together with the texture and length that make a wine feel complete rather than simply crisp.

The vineyard

The fruit comes from a blend of parcels on the slopes surrounding Maimbray, the Reverdy family’s home village. These vineyards are rooted in clay-limestone soils locally known as terres blanches, or “white earth”. The clay helps retain moisture and brings breadth to the palate, while the limestone contributes lift, definition and the fine mineral character associated with the appellation.

Careful pruning, grass cover between the rows and hand harvesting help the family bring healthy, evenly ripened fruit into the cellar. Each parcel contributes something slightly different, and blending them gives Terre de Maimbray its balance of fruit, freshness and stony precision.

The Pascal & Nicolas Reverdy story

The domaine was established in 1993 by brothers Pascal and Nicolas Reverdy in Maimbray, near Sury-en-Vaux. It remains a close family estate, carried forward today by Pascal, Nathalie and Sophie together with the next generation, Victorien and Benjamin.

Across approximately 18 hectares, the family grows mainly Sauvignon Blanc with a smaller proportion of Pinot Noir. Their approach is grounded in practical vineyard knowledge and continuity: understand each site, work it carefully and let the wines speak clearly of Sancerre rather than of the cellar.

A thoughtful approach in the vineyard

The Reverdy family works according to lutte raisonnée, a considered form of sustainable viticulture in which vineyard treatments are limited and used only when conditions require them. Grass is maintained between the rows, pruning is deliberately strict and the grapes are harvested by hand.

This attention matters in a wine built on clarity. Healthy fruit and careful picking preserve the bright natural acidity of Sauvignon Blanc while allowing flavour and texture to develop fully. The aim is not excess ripeness, but balance: freshness, aromatic detail and a true sense of place.

How is it made?

After hand harvesting, the grapes are gently and slowly pressed. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks, protecting the wine’s delicate floral, citrus and herbal aromas. The wine then matures for around six months on its fine lees, without oak and without regular stirring.

Lees ageing adds a subtle creaminess and savoury depth while stainless steel keeps the profile pure and energetic. The finished wine feels generous through the middle, yet its chalky, saline line remains beautifully intact.

What does it taste like?

Pale gold in the glass, with an elegant nose of white flowers, honeysuckle, lemon, white peach and a lift of fresh green herbs. The palate is dry and lively, opening with citrus and green apple before becoming rounder and more generous through the middle. Chalky minerality, a light saline note and gentle spice carry the wine into a long, clean finish.

This is a Sancerre with both snap and shape: precise enough for aperitif drinking, but textured enough to sit comfortably beside food.

Is it sweet?

No. Terre de Maimbray is a dry white wine. Its ripe fruit and time on fine lees give the palate a smooth, rounded feel, but there is no obvious sweetness. Bright acidity and a mineral finish keep everything fresh, clean and composed.

Should I decant it?

Decanting is not necessary. Serve it chilled at around 8–10°C and, if you can, open the bottle 20–30 minutes before pouring. It will become more expressive as it warms gently in the glass, revealing more white peach, floral detail and texture.

It is delicious now and is made to show its best in its youth, although a well-stored bottle can develop additional savoury complexity over the next few years.

What should I drink it with?

Sancerre and goat’s cheese is a classic Loire pairing, especially Crottin de Chavignol or a warm goat’s cheese salad. The wine’s citrus freshness and saline edge are also excellent with oysters, shellfish, seafood platters, grilled or pan-fried fish and simple white-meat dishes.

For a relaxed lunch, pour it with seafood pasta, asparagus, green salads, fresh herbs or vegetable dishes with lemon and olive oil. Its combination of freshness and texture makes it an easy bottle to move from aperitif to the table.

Wine details: Sancerre AOC · Loire Valley, France · 100% Sauvignon Blanc · 2023 vintage · 13% ABV · 750ml · Dry · Hand harvested · Serve at 8–10°C