Pascal Jolivet founded this estate in 1987, making it one of the youngest in the Loire Valley. In this short time, however, their Sancerre and Pouilly Fume are considered among the best in the region. Pascal Jolivet is one of the youngest and most dynamic winemakers in the Loire Valley, and his philosophy is to let nature take its course as much as possible in the making of his wines, using techniques that allow the natural flavors and character of the fruit to shine through.
Jolivet owns 42 hectares of vineyards in Sancerre, at an altitude of 200 to 400 meters, near the villages of Bué, Verdigny, and Ste Gemme, 3.5 hectares of which are planted with Pinot Noir. The location, close to the Loire River and surrounded by forest, creates a relatively mild microclimate for the vineyards. The soils are a mix of chalk and clay. The vines are trained using a vertical shoot positioning system.
After ten days of cold maceration, the juice is fermented for fifteen days at 22 degrees Celsius in stainless steel using only naturally occurring yeasts. Following fermentation, the wine is aged on the lees for another year, giving it a subtle, rich complexity before bottling. Each batch is vinified separately and blended just before bottling.
The aroma offers a beautiful bouquet of typical Pinot Noir aromas with hints of raspberry and blackcurrant. The taste is silky smooth, round, and clean with hints of red fruit, light spice, a touch of vanilla, and an undertone of lavender. The finish is smooth and long, and this wine should be enjoyed slightly chilled!
