In the glass

Medium-bodiedLow tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: white peach, grapefruit, white flower, chalk

Palate: citrus, lees creaminess, saline mineral, stone fruit

Pinard's terroir blend across 40-year-old Caillottes vines in Bué. Lees creaminess and chalky minerality from a third-each tank, old barrique and demi-muid raising.

What it pairs with

  • Sole grenobloise
    Caper-and-lemon brown butter sauce meets the wine's chalky citrus signature.
  • Goat cheese gnocchi
    Lees creaminess matches gnocchi texture; chèvre tang locks onto Sauvignon's lift.
  • Roast chicken with lemon
    Lemon-zest acidity refreshes white meat; lees weight handles roasting juices.
  • Mussels marinière
    Saline mineral edge and shellfish broth lock together; chalk lifts the wine-cream sauce.

History

Vincent Pinard developed Nuance as a terroir blend across his old-vine Caillottes parcels in Bué. The cuvée balances vat freshness with barrel and demi-muid texture.

  1. 1995 — First vintage of Nuance bottled
  2. 2015 — Estate fully converted to organic and biodynamic farming

Facts

Producer
Domaine Vincent Pinard
Grapes
Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Classification
Sancerre AOC
Oak
Vinified in equal portions of stainless steel, older barriques and demi-muids; aged on fine lees for around 9 months
ABV
13.0%
Price
EUR 25 to 40 at retail
Drinking window
2-10 from vintage
First vintage
1995
Biodynamic
Biodynamic Practicing
Organic
ECOCERT
Vegan
Yes (no animal-derived fining)

Scores

  • Decanter 92 (2020 vintage, reviewed 2022)

Frequently asked about Sancerre Nuance

What does Pinard Nuance taste like?

White peach, grapefruit, white flower and chalk on the nose; citrus, lees creaminess, saline mineral and stone fruit on the palate. Medium-bodied with high acidity and a long, chalky finish.

When should I drink Pinard Nuance?

Drink between 2 and 10 years from vintage. The third-each ageing in tank, barrique and demi-muid gives the wine textural complexity that builds over three years in bottle.

Where is Nuance grown?

From 40-year-old Sauvignon Blanc vines on Caillottes (chalky limestone) terroir in Bué, in the heart of Sancerre.

Is Pinard Nuance vegan?

Yes. The estate is biodynamic and uses no animal-derived fining agents.

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