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 2020: best 2023 to 2035.
vintage3 yrs15 yrs17 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Wine Spectator reviewed 2023 | 2020 | 92/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: ripe peach, lemon curd, honeysuckle, vanilla
Palate: yellow apple, lemon confit, toasted hazelnut, creamy lees
Bourgeois' barrel-aged Sauvignon cuvée named for the founder. Ripe yellow fruits, honeysuckle and toasted hazelnut over a creamy, lees-driven palate that still retains Sancerre's acidity.
What it pairs with
- Roast chicken with tarragon Barrel weight and creamy lees support roast poultry; tarragon's anise note echoes the wine's honeysuckle lift.More wines for chicken and white meat →
- Pike-perch with beurre blanc Loire's signature freshwater fish in butter sauce meets a Sancerre with the texture to handle cream.More wines for fish →
- Lobster thermidor Creamy gratin shellfish demands the wine's barrel-aged richness and persistent acidity.More wines for lobster →
- Aged Comté Hazelnut depth in the cheese finds an echo in the wine's lees and oak; acidity refreshes the palate.More wines for aged hard cheese →
History
Created in honour of Étienne Henri Bourgeois, the late patriarch who guided the domaine through the 20th century. The cuvée selects ripe parcels and ages them in barrel to show a richer face of Sancerre.
- 1990First vintage of the Étienne Henri cuvée
- 2003Estate establishes Clos Henri in Marlborough, expanding the family's Sauvignon project
Facts
- Producer
- Domaine Henri Bourgeois (Famille Bourgeois) · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
- Classification
- Sancerre AOC
- Oak
- Fermented and aged in oak barriques, around 10 percent new, for around 12 months on lees
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Price
- EUR 45 to 75 at retail
- Drinking window
- 3-15 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1990
Frequently asked about Sancerre Étienne Henri
What does Bourgeois Étienne Henri taste like?
Ripe peach, lemon curd, honeysuckle and vanilla on the nose; yellow apple, lemon confit, toasted hazelnut and creamy lees on the palate. Full-bodied with high acidity and a long, creamy finish.
When should I drink Étienne Henri?
Drink between 3 and 15 years from vintage. The barrel ageing means the wine's oak integrates with 3 to 5 years in bottle; mature bottles benefit from a 30 minute decant.
How is Étienne Henri aged?
Fermented and aged in oak barriques, around 10 percent new, for around 12 months on the lees. The cuvée selects the ripest parcels each vintage.
What food pairs with Étienne Henri?
Roast chicken with tarragon, pike-perch with beurre blanc and aged Comté are textbook pairings; the barrel richness handles creamy sauces and aged cheeses.
Tags
Taste it where it is made: tastings near Domaine Henri Bourgeois (Famille Bourgeois)
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