Day Trip to the Sancerre and Pouilly Vineyards
In a fun and educational way, travel this part of the Loire Valley, which could well be the cradle of Sauvignon in France... Why has this grape earned its reputation t...
Profile
Structure
Drinking window
Latest scored vintage 2021: best 2024 to 2036.
vintage3 yrs15 yrs17 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Decanter reviewed 2023 | 2021 | 93/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: ripe peach, vanilla, honeysuckle, spice
Palate: yellow apple, lemon curd, toast, creamy lees
Pinard's barrel-fermented old-vine selection. Ripe peach and honeysuckle over a creamy, vanilla-toned palate that still retains Sancerre's chalky drive.
What it pairs with
- Sole bonne femme Mushroom and shallot cream sauce meets barrel weight; lemon-curd register handles butter.More wines for fish →
- Veal Vienna schnitzel Crisp breadcrumb crust and barrel-aged Sancerre is a textured pairing; lemon-curd echoes the wedge.More wines for beef and red meat →
- Truffled risotto Vanilla-toast register meets earthy truffle; lees creaminess matches risotto texture.More wines for risotto →
- Aged Comté Hazelnut crystallisation in 30+ month Comté finds the wine's toast and creamy lees.More wines for aged hard cheese →
History
Harmonie is Pinard's barrel-aged selection of old vines and an early Sancerre made entirely in new oak. The cuvée is the richer, oak-driven style in Pinard's range.
- 1990First vintage of Harmonie bottled in new oak
Facts
- Producer
- Domaine Vincent Pinard · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
- Classification
- Sancerre AOC
- Oak
- Fermented and aged in new oak barrels, around 12 months on fine lees
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Price
- EUR 40 to 65 at retail
- Drinking window
- 3-15 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1990
- Biodynamic
- Biodynamic Practicing
- Organic
- ECOCERT
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Frequently asked about Sancerre Harmonie
What does Pinard Harmonie taste like?
Ripe peach, vanilla, honeysuckle and spice on the nose; yellow apple, lemon curd, toast and creamy lees on the palate. Full-bodied with high acidity and a long, creamy finish.
When should I drink Pinard Harmonie?
Drink between 3 and 15 years from vintage. The new oak integrates with 3 to 5 years in bottle; mature bottles benefit from a 30 minute decant.
How is Harmonie aged?
Fermented and aged in new oak barrels for around 12 months on fine lees. The cuvée selects Pinard's oldest vines for the new-oak treatment.
Is Pinard Harmonie vegan?
Yes. The estate is biodynamic and uses no animal-derived fining agents.
Tags
biodynamic
dry
full body
high acid
medium term
mood contemplative
mood elegant
mood savoury
occasion cellar
occasion dinner party
occasion special
old vines
old world
organic
pairs with aged cheese
pairs with shellfish
pairs with truffles
pairs with white fish
price premium
sauvignon blanc
still white
vegan
Taste it where it is made: tastings near Domaine Vincent Pinard
Sancerre Vineyard Day Tour with Private Driver
Enjoy the Sancerre & Pouilly Fumé wine region with a private driver. Discover the local Sauvignon Blanc grapes where the white wines of the region tend to be structure...
3-day Private Loire Castles Trip 2 Wine tastings by Mercedes
3-day Private tour to Top 7 Loire Valley Castles with 2 Wine tastings. Chenonceau, Amboise, Chambord, Blois, Chaumont, Da Vinci Clos Luce, Villandry by Mercedes. Live ...
Wine tastings and winery visits in Loire Valley (22) · Wine tours and day trips in Loire Valley (35) · Wine tours by bike in Loire Valley (5)