Pierre Martin Sancerre Les Monts Damnees / 2021 / 75cl

A family estate rooted in the village of Chavignol, Domaine Pierre Martin farms just eight hectares of steep, chalk‑rich slopes, working parcel by parcel with a focus on low‑intervention viticulture. Les Monts Damnées is one of Sancerre’s most celebrated lieux‑dits, a dramatic south‑facing hillside of pure Kimmeridgian marl that has long produced some of the region’s most incisive, ageworthy Sauvignon Blanc. Pierre Martin’s approach is deliberately restrained: hand harvesting, gentle pressing, cool fermentations, and élevage in stainless steel to preserve the vineyard’s precision and mineral drive.

The 2021 shows the site’s signature tension straight away, opening with lifted aromas of lime zest, white peach, crushed shell and a subtle herbal edge. The palate is taut and finely etched, carrying citrus and stone‑fruit purity over a spine of saline minerality and bright, mouthwatering acidity. There’s a lovely sense of depth without weight, the finish long, chalky and clean. A classic expression of Monts Damnées that balances vibrancy with quiet complexity, and one that will continue to unfurl beautifully over the next few years.