Producer: Edmond Vatan 
Region: Sancerre, Loire, France  
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc  
Year: 2017   

John Gilman, 97 Points 

"It is hard to believe how long I have been drinking and cellaring the wines from Edmond Vatan, as the first vintage I ever sold of his wine was the 1988 all the way back in late 1980s. I should have cellared some then, as I am sure the ’88 is still drinking brilliantly today! However, it took me a decade or so to get my act together and cellar my Vatan for the long haul, so the oldest bottle I have left in my cellar is from the 1997 vintage. In any case, Monsieur Vatan and his lovely daughter Anne have crafted a stellar wine in 2017, with this vintage coming in at an even fourteen percent octane (pretty much standard for Monsieur Vatan’s wines in most vintages of the last twenty years) and offering up that classic, youthful aromatic constellation of lime, pear, complex botanicals, kaleidoscopic minerality, fresh mint, a dollop of petrol, incipient notes of beeswax and a topnote of citrus peel. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, precise and rock solid at the core, with classic Vatan mineral drive, snappy, buried acids, impeccable balance and a long, complex, focused and vibrant young finish. In these days of global warming, I have found myself drawn more now to the less ripe vintages of this wine and those from François Cotat, as their traditional styles seem to work better in years with a bit less sun. The 2017 from the Vatan family is a legend in the making! Monsieur Vatan was born in 1929 and turns ninety-one this year, but continues to cruise along in good health. A Happy 91st to the maestro of Chavignol, who is proving even more timeless than his wines! 2027-2075." 

Alcohol: 14% 

*Discounts do not apply to items like this one in the Fine & Rare category. Price and availability in store may vary.