In the glass
Aroma: macerated cherry, smoke, chestnut mushroom, violet
Palate: red cherry, savoury herb, graphite, silk
Pinot Noir from 50-year-old vines on pure silex. Burgundian in feel: macerated cherry and chestnut mushroom over cool, silken tannin and a smoky finish.
What it pairs with
-
Duck breast with cherry jus
The wine's macerated cherry register echoes the sauce; silken tannin handles the duck's fat without overwhelming it. -
Roast partridge
Cool-climate Pinot acidity refreshes gamebird; smoky savoury notes shadow the meat's char. -
Veal blanquette
The silken texture and chestnut-mushroom aromas align with the creamy, mushroom-forward stew. -
Aged Comté
Hazelnut richness in the cheese finds a partner in the wine's smoky depth and red-fruit lift.
History
Vacheron's Grand Cru equivalent of Sancerre Rouge. First made in 1995 from a single silex parcel of 50-year-old Pinot Noir vines, the cuvée established that Sancerre's flint terroirs could produce serious, age-worthy Pinot.
- 1995 — First vintage of Belle Dame released
- 2004 — Vines converted to biodynamic farming under Ecocert
Facts
- Producer
- Domaine Vacheron
- Grapes
- Pinot Noir (100%)
- Classification
- Sancerre AOC
- Oak
- Around 18 to 24 months in French oak, around 30 percent new
- ABV
- 13.0%
- Price
- EUR 70 to 110 at retail
- Drinking window
- 5-20 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1995
- Biodynamic
- Biodynamic Practicing
- Organic
- ECOCERT
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Scores
- Vinous 94 (2020 vintage, reviewed 2023)
Frequently asked about Sancerre Rouge Belle Dame
What does Vacheron Belle Dame taste like?
Macerated cherry, smoke, chestnut mushroom and violet on the nose; red cherry, savoury herb, graphite and silk on the palate. Medium-bodied with medium tannin and high acidity, a long smoky finish.
When should I drink Vacheron Belle Dame?
Drink between 5 and 20 years from vintage. Younger vintages benefit from 60 to 90 minutes of decanting to unfurl the smoky, gamebird notes; mature bottles open in the glass.
Is Vacheron Belle Dame vegan?
Yes. The estate uses no animal-derived fining agents since converting to biodynamic farming in 2004.
Where is Belle Dame grown?
A single parcel of pure silex (flint) soil in Sancerre, planted with 50-year-old Pinot Noir vines. The flint backbone gives the wine its smoky, mineral character.