Domaine Vincent Delaporte
Patrick and I first visited Vincent Delaporte in 1986, a memorable end to a long day, we finished by tasting older and older red and white Sancerres. One of the oldest whites still ranks as the only wine I have ever thought smelled of roast chicken! His wines were in Steven Spurrier's selection for the Caves de la Madeleine, the London end of which Patrick was running at the time. They have featured in the Lea and Sandeman selection since our very first list. The domaine passed to Vincent's son Jean-Yves and his wife Nathalie, and now their son Matthieu will be joining them.
The vines are cultivated with the greatest respect for environment and tradition.
The wines produced by the Domaine Vincent Delaporte show an outstanding constancy in both quality and style.CAL
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Sancerre-Pouilly Loire France
The Delaporte's Sancerre Rouge, a very delicately oak-aged Pinot Noir, is round and juicily fruity with bright and elegant fruit. A strong contender for Burgundy drinkers at this price level. To be enjoyed young and even chilled.
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Sancerre-Pouilly Loire France
A full flavoured muscular wine from classic 'silex' (silica) soils, not as overtly Sauvignony as those grown on the chalk soils to the west, nor as firmly dry as the wines from the limestone of Bué. A perfect balance of fruit and firm minerality. This wine is composed of vines with an average age of 30-35 years. Thanks to a diversity of soils types, principally flint and limestone and a strict blending of wines from 28 plots, which adds finesse, aromatic... (more info)
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Sancerre-Pouilly Loire France
For the first time Vincent Delaporte's free run Pinot Noir was entirley harvested by hand using just small baskets to protect the fruit. As ever this makes a wonderfully juicy and elegantly fruity rosé that will drink well throughout the year and is brilliant with food too. Purity is to the fore in 2011 - precision frames the lovely notes of wild stawberry, with generous fruit mid-palate and a sophisticated dry finish. Dangerously good and easy drinking.
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Sancerre-Pouilly Loire France
Delaporte's Cuvée Maxime Vieilles Vignes is the estates flagship wine from old vines grown entirely on limestone. Two passes through the vineyard selecting grapes at optimum ripeness, fermented in old oak barrels, which gives a richer texture to the concentrated fruit without giving any discernable wood flavour. This exceptional cuvee is a gastronomic wine and will develop well over a number of years in bottle.
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Sancerre-Pouilly Loire France
For the first time this beatifully crafted Pinot Noir from the Delaportes uses fruit grown exclusively on the silex soils famous in Chavignol, but mostly reserved for top Sauvignon Blanc vines. The result is a wonderful mineral dimension to the fleshy, juicy pinot style. Quite delicious in this vintage and an excellent alternative to some pricier names in Burgundy where the quality to price ratio does not add up so well at all!