Sancerre Blanc Les Romains by Domaine Vacheron

In the glass

Medium-bodiedLow tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: crisp pear, lemon zest, wildflower, flint smoke

Palate: lemon confit, marzipan, white spice, grapefruit

Single-parcel silex Sauvignon from vines planted 1970. Crystalline citrus and grapefruit on a tense, intensely mineral frame; ages on the cellar floor for over a decade.

What it pairs with

Sea bass crudo
Tense mineral acidity lifts raw fish; lemon-zest aromatics echo a simple citrus dressing.
Lobster with beurre blanc
The wine's textural depth from lees ageing partners shellfish richness; flint signature cuts butter.
Goat cheese tartlets
Crottin de Chavignol with the AOC's flagship silex Sauvignon is a textbook Sancerre pairing.
Grilled asparagus
Sauvignon's herbal lift meets the vegetable's bitterness; saline minerality balances olive oil.

History

Among the early Sancerres grown on pure silex (flint) soils, Les Romains was created to express the depth and complexity of flint Sauvignon. The 1970-planted vines bring concentration unusual in Sancerre.

1970 — Vines planted on the Les Romains silex parcel
1997 — First vintage of Les Romains bottled as a single-parcel cuvée
2008 — Biodynamic certification granted on the parcel

Facts

Producer: Domaine Vacheron
Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Classification: Sancerre AOC
Oak: Fermented and aged on lees in old foudre and demi-muid, no new oak, around 12 months
ABV: 13.0%
Price: EUR 55 to 90 at retail
Drinking window: 3-15 from vintage
First vintage: 1997
Biodynamic: Biodynamic Practicing
Organic: ECOCERT
Vegan: Yes (no animal-derived fining)

Scores

James Suckling 95 (2021 vintage, reviewed 2023)

Frequently asked about Sancerre Blanc Les Romains

What does Vacheron Les Romains taste like?

Crisp pear, lemon zest, wildflower and flint smoke on the nose; lemon confit, marzipan, white spice and grapefruit on the palate. Medium-bodied with high acidity and a long, tense mineral finish.

When should I drink Vacheron Les Romains?

Drink between 3 and 15 years from vintage. The flint signature emerges fully after 5 years in bottle; younger vintages reward a 30 minute decant.

What soil is Les Romains grown on?

Pure silex (flint) terroir. Les Romains was an early Sancerre bottled exclusively from this soil type, prized for the smoky, lifted character it imparts to Sauvignon Blanc.

Is Vacheron Les Romains vegan?

Yes. The estate uses no animal-derived fining agents since converting to biodynamic farming in 2004.

Sancerre Blanc Les Romains