In the glass
Aroma: lemon, yellow apple, wet stone, white flower
Palate: citrus, chalky mineral, stone fruit, saline texture
Unfiltered, wild-yeast cuvée from 2 hectares of old-vine organic Sauvignon on pure limestone in Champtin and Bué. Pure expression of Caillottes terroir.
What it pairs with
-
Coquilles Saint-Jacques
Scallop sweetness meets chalky mineral lift; the wine's saline texture echoes the shellfish. -
Steamed mussels
Saline mineral edge and shellfish broth lock together; chalk lifts cream-shallot sauce. -
Goat cheese soufflé
Chèvre intensity and Sauvignon's chalky drive align; lifted aromatics handle the eggy weight. -
Sea bass with fennel
Anise and fennel bridge to Sauvignon's herbal lift; saline texture handles the firm fish.
History
Sauvage is Jolivet's top cuvée, made from 2 hectares of organically grown old vines on pure limestone in Champtin and Bué. Wild yeasts and unfiltered bottling express the terroir directly.
- 2008 — First vintage of Sauvage as an unfiltered, wild-yeast cuvée
Facts
- Producer
- Maison Pascal Jolivet
- Grapes
- Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
- Classification
- Sancerre AOC
- Oak
- Vinified with wild yeasts in stainless steel; aged on lees, no oak, unfiltered
- ABV
- 13.0%
- Price
- EUR 35 to 55 at retail
- Drinking window
- 2-10 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2008
- Organic
- ORGANIC CERTIFIED
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Scores
- Wine Spectator 92 (2021 vintage, reviewed 2023)
Frequently asked about Sancerre Sauvage
What does Jolivet Sauvage taste like?
Lemon, yellow apple, wet stone and white flower on the nose; citrus, chalky mineral, stone fruit and saline texture on the palate. Medium-bodied with high acidity and a long, chalky finish.
When should I drink Jolivet Sauvage?
Drink between 2 and 10 years from vintage. The wild-yeast vinification gives the wine textural depth that builds with 3 to 5 years in bottle.
Where is Sauvage grown?
On 2 hectares of organic old vines planted on pure limestone in the villages of Champtin and Bué, in the heart of Sancerre.
Is Jolivet Sauvage vegan?
Yes. The cuvée is unfiltered and produced without animal-derived fining agents.