Pellé 2018 Menetou-Salon Morogues Rouge (Pinot Noir)

From Sancerre's " little sister next door" appellation Menetou-Salon, the Morogues shows just how lovely Loire Pinot Noir can be. Hailing from 3 different vineyard sites in hilly Morogues endowed with the famous Kimmeridgian limestone that Chablis and Chavignol in Sancerre are reknowned for.  The Pelles were instrumental in pushing for Morogues and Mentou to get the status it deserved after the appellation's creation in 1959.  Once great grandson Paul Henry took over in 2007, he immediately converted to organic viticulture, a rarity in the region. The wine jumps out of the glass with aromas of blackberries, raspberries, black cherry and chalky minerality, while the palate is redolent of  berries,forest floor, soft dusty tannins underscored by a vein of bright acidity and that chalky minerality. Hailing from the warm 2018 vintage, this is not your typical thin Loire Pinot Noir, Extremely elegant, ripe, mineral - laden and definitely age worthy; capable of giving Burgundy , let alone Sancerre, a serious run for the money! Giselle Hamburg

Pellé 2020 Menetou-Salon Blanchais (Arrives 6/13)

(Pre-Arrival, due 6/10) The Pellé Menetou-Salon "Les Blanchais" is from a single vineyard of massale selection vines planted in 1966. The soils are clay and silex over Kimmeridgian limestone as in Chablis and in the commune of Chavignol in Sancerre. Like the best wines of Chavignol, the "Les Blanchais" is vibrant and delicious as a young wine and will develop beautifully in the cellar for ten years or more. As someone who’s mostly ambivalent about Sauvignon Blanc as a grape variety, I somehow find plenty of exceptions to the rule. White Bordeaux? Love it. Bright, if textured, examples from Collio, had some real good ones. Chavignol and Reuilly? I’m listening. Saint-Bris? Bring it on. So it should be no surprise that I find myself not only convinced, but charmed by the various beautiful bottlings of Menetou-Salon from Domaine Pellé in Kimmeridgian-rich Morogues. Paul-Henry Pellé farms the vines organically ferments the wines with native yeast and in the case of the parcellaires, élévage is a combination of barrels, foudre, and tank. The wines display a deft balance of ripeness, soil signature, and vivacity. And though they are delicious young, a bottle squirreled away for a few years will delight as the gorgeous fruit knits with the undercurrent of chalky minerality within. The 2020 Blanchais is brimming with energy and vibrant stone fruit character with a tangy succulence to the finish that beckons for the next sip. There are stone fruit and melon notes framed by lime zest brightness and a salty undercurrent acting as a foil lending balance and drive on a long and rising finish. The balance here is notable, as is the nose which plays up the white fruit and muskmelon aromas with enough limestone soil signature to place this in Morogues. Fabulous with a butter lettuce salad with smoked salmon with chives and dill and a mustardy crème fraîche vinaigrette, better still with pan-roasted pencil asparagus with brown butter and lemon zest. Though a flounder fillet stuffed with crabmeat and a lemon beurre blanc seems an intriguing possibility. Open this a bit in advance and this will delight. Cellar for 3-5 years and I imagine this will shine. John McIlwain

Pellé 2020 Menetou-Salon Morogues "Carroir"

The 2020 "Carroir" is from a small parcel of massale selection Sauvignon Blanc planted in 1976 on silex soils in Morogues. More austere than the Kimmeridgian based wines, "Carroir" is lacy and delicate yet powerful as well and built to age, best probably 2025 - 2030.

Gilbert 2020 Menetou-Salon Blanc

 Philippe Gilbert makes beatiful wines in Menetou-Salon, which abuts Sancerre, including lovely rosé and red from Pinot Noir and superb Menetou-Salon blanc from Sauvignon Blanc, certified Biodynamic by Demeter. The living soils are evident in this  lovely wine, showing elegant aromas of pear, fig, citrus peel, lime flower, anise and stone. The palate is very mineral with firm chalky acidity unerlying pear, almond, citrus, stone and herbal flavors. The wine shows extra richness and complexity due to the 14 month sur-lie aging.  This is a great pairing with any mild fish preparation and goat cheeses and it's far superior to most Sancerres in this price range.