New Release: Domaine Vincent Pinard’s 2023s – Soulful, Site-Specific Sancerres

“Vincent Pinard is one of my go-to Sancerre producers” – Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous

Few producers capture the potential of Sauvignon Blanc with the precision and depth of Clément and Florent Pinard. Based in the revered village of Bué in Sancerre, home to several of the region’s most illustrious vineyards, the Pinards craft cuvées that far exceed the variety’s everyday reputation.

Deeply inspired by the regal whites of Burgundy and driven by a desire to express the nuances of their terroirs, their philosophy is rooted in meticulous vineyard work and a gentle, low-intervention approach in the cellar. In the vineyard, they practice green harvesting, hand picking, and careful sorting. Vinifications are carried out plot by plot using their own native yeast strains, followed by élevage in large oak barrels, many sourced from the esteemed Stockinger cooperage.

The result is a range of crisp, dry, mineral-driven wines that clearly reflect a sense of place. The finest vintages can age for decades, developing complex layers of beeswax, truffle and honeyed citrus.

Producers like Vincent Pinard, who green harvested and kept yields in check, were rewarded in 2023 with wines of impressive purity and concentration. The vintage was generous and beautifully balanced, showing a fresher aromatic profile and a more measured structure than 2022, underpinned by beautifully clear, expressive fruit.

We are pleased to offer a selection of 2023s that stand among the most compelling white wines currently being made in the Loire Valley.

Sancerre, Harmonie, Vincent Pinard, 2023

Harmonie comes from vines in the lieux-dits Pèlerine and La Plante des Prés, on a mix of Kimmeridgian and Oxfordian limestone. It is aged for up to 12 months, with two thirds in 600-litre demi-muids and one third in large wooden vats. The 2023 opens with a layered and lifted aromatic profile of tangerine citrus, conference pear and delicate white stone fruit. The palate is crisp and juicy, with excellent concentration and freshness, framed by a fine chalky structure that carries through to a long, citrus-driven finish.

Sancerre, Petit Chemarin, Vincent Pinard, 2023

Planted in 1968 on a blend of Oxfordian limestone and Kimmeridgian marl, Petit Chemarin is the coolest single vineyard site in the domaine’s holdings and consistently produces wines of delicate aromatics, quiet tension and crystalline fruit. Aged on lees for 12 months in 600 litre barrels, the 2023 shows remarkable poise, with aromas of cool citrus, lemon oil and crisp green apple gently lifted by notes of white blossom and white stone fruit. The palate is delicate and finely drawn, with a firm, linear drive finishing with a sleek wet-stone minerality.

Sancerre, Le Chêne Marchand, Vincent Pinard, 2023

Often likened to one of Sancerre’s “grand crus”, Le Chêne Marchand comes from one of Bué’s most celebrated lieux-dits, planted between 1959 and 2005 on stony white Oxfordian limestone. Aged on lees for 12 months in 600 litre barrels, the 2023 offers a compelling balance of power and precision. Aromas of ripe citrus, nectarine and peach lead into a broad, layered palate of fleshy stone fruit. The structure is firm yet elegant, supported by a chalky freshness that brings energy and focus, while a touch of orange pith adds subtle grip on the finish.