Fournier Père et Fils Monts Damnés Sancerre 2022

The Monts Damnés vineyard is one of Sancerre’s single most famous and exquisite sites, with nearly vertical, wind-swept slopes and mineral-loaded Kimmeridgian marl soils rich with fossilized seashells and clay. Set in the iconic village of Chavignol, this vineyard is a source for some of the region’s finest producers, including Francois Cotat and Girard Boulay, among others.

Under $40 for what’s considered the Grand Cru of Sancerre is bonkers... add in a couple of rave critic reviews and the careful handiwork of Fournier Père et Fils, and you’ve got yourself one earth-shattering Sancerre steal!

Les Monts Damnés, or “Cursed Mountains,” are anything but – instead, this hallowed site is one of the most highly regarded vineyards in all of Sancerre. It’s basically a limestone plateau made of the prized “terres blanches” chalk, showcasing extremely steep, south-facing slopes and vines an average of 45 years old. Perhaps cursed for how difficult it is to harvest the fruit on the ruggedly inclined slopes, the vineyard happens to produce perfectly healthy Sauvignon Blanc grapes practically every year, and 2022 is no exception.

Fournier Père et Fils has a thing for crafting immaculate single-vineyard bottlings and prefers to source fruit from revelatory sites like this, which exhibit an unshakable sense of place. The estate was founded in 1955 by fifth-generation winemaker Paul Fournier, with just four hectares. Quickly, the holdings expanded, the reputation grew, and his son Claude took the helm, expanding the estate to become a leading producer in the Central Loire Valley. Meanwhile, the head of the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, Joost de Willebois, was beginning to explore his mounting interest in making wine in the ‘80s – taking night classes in Bordeaux to learn the craft and eventually producing his own small batches of wine in an old farmhouse in Touraine starting in 2000.

In 2004, Joost and his wife, Miguela, leapt wholeheartedly into the world of French wine, purchasing a small winery in Touraine and building out a team to support their steadfast production efforts. As Joost’s expertise grew, Claude Fournier simultaneously decided it was time to retire and pursue his other passion: race cars. The de Willebois family bought the Fournier estate in 2015 and worked hand-in-hand with Claude for two years to be able to uphold and carry on the traditions the Fournier family faithfully laid before them. To this day, the de Willeboises continue crafting exemplary and elegant wines throughout the Loire Valley that demonstrate the intricacies of the varied terroirs they source from, just as the Fourniers did first.

This gorgeous, piquant, mineral-laced 2022 Monts Damnés Sancerre is just one example of this exceptional house's artistry. Notes of Granny Smith apple, green Calimyra figs, lemon peel, roasted herbs, white pepper, and a touch of honey-drizzled grilled peach interplay magnificently, with a culmination of chalky, tumbled river rocks, struck flint, and marcona almonds on the considerably lengthy, tingly finish. This will keep for a handful of years, no doubt, but I wouldn’t blame you for diving headfirst into this right now. You won’t find this level of quality at this price practically anywhere else throughout Sancerre... and maybe even all of France. I’d do your best to take home a few at least and savor these treasures over the next 3 to 5 years!

PAIRING IDEAS: Seafood is this wine’s BFF – I pan-seared scallops until golden-brown and served them with a killer lemon and herb butter. Unbelievably good, and shockingly easy and fast!