Nicolas Girard Sancerre Rosé 2024

We know Sancerre produces a certain lip-smacking, mouth-watering, spine-tingling style of white wine, and it turns out the rosé is just as tantalizing. The area’s chalky soils and warm, well-draining slopes, coupled with Nicolas Girard’s old-fashioned vineyard work and modern winemaking technology, makes for a stunning, eminently drinkable final product in this 2024 rosé. Getting it for under $30 certainly sweetens the deal!

This iconic Sancerre estate was established in 1875 and lies just outside of the town of Sancerre. The Girard family modernized the winery and vineyards when they bought the estate in 1973, and ever since, it has become the base for not only the original estate, Domaine des Brosses – but also the offshoot brands by the new, younger generations of the Girard clan. We’ve direct imported them for years, and simply put, they’re our go-to in terms of exceptional quality and incomparable value across several styles and varieties.

Alain Girard, Nicolas’s father, comes from several generations of winemakers in the tiny village of Chaudoux, located directly north of the famous town of Chavignol. Nicolas, alongside his brother, Anthony, has since taken over winemaking duties – and like their father before them – each has their own label, made in slightly different styles, from across the estate’s holdings. This structure allows each winemaking generation to pursue their own experiments, while still growing within, and eventually re-shaping the house style for the next generation. Together, they are making a stunning portfolio of high-toned wines that are fresh, modern, and aromatically pure.

This exceptionally bright and fresh 100% Pinot Noir rosé is a light strawberry color with a refreshing nose of myriad red berries. Raspberries, red cherries, strawberries, and red currants, complemented by unique and layered accents of salted watermelon, blood orange, clove, white pepper, and fresh tarragon. Medium weight, but uplifted with a gorgeously intense acidity, this rosé was built for food – with options that are nearly limitless – but also stands solidly on its own. Someone on Vivino remarked, “If I was forced to drink only this rosé for the rest of my life, I wouldn’t complain,” and I’m inclined to heartily agree. (They also rated it 5 stars.)

If you’ve had any of the Sancerre offerings from Nicolas Girard – white, red, or rosé – you know what to expect. Classic, pure, and singular bottlings that stand as worthy ambassadors of all things Sancerre. Get enough to last you through summer, and report back with your utter delight!

FOOD PAIRINGS: Something about curry spices and rosé makes me go weak in the knees. This wicked-easy salmon curry is one of my all-time favorite weeknight dishes, and endlessly charms aside this punchy rosé.