Pierre Prieur & Fils Sancerre La Damnée Des Prieur 2022

For ten generations, the history of the Prieur family has been written in the prestigious terroirs of Sancerre such as Monts-Damnés, Coinches, Bouffants in Chavignol, Chêne Marchand in Bué, and Perriers in Verdigny. Today this family estate is run by Bruno and Thierry Prieur. The 42-acre estate has 30 acres planted to Sauvignon Blanc, and the balance with Pinot Noir, in three types of soils : chalky-clay, pebbly-chalk and flinty soils. We tasted and loved this with its elegant, classic style. Made of 100% Sauvignon Blanc (as are all Sancerre white wines), this has citrus notes of lemon and grapefruit, green pear and peach skin along with lovely terroir notes of flinty chalk and minerals. Serve with French goat’s milk cheeses in particular, or with raw oysters, shellfish and white fish dishes. 

The chalky-clay vineyards of Les Monts Damnés in Sancerre are formidably steep. The story goes that growers so dreaded having to work on ‘those damned slopes’ that the name stuck. It is not unheard of for grape pickers to strap on a cushion as protection in case they slip. But the risks have attendant rewards – namely distinctive, intensely flavored, elegant wines. Bruno and Thierry Prieur come from a long line of Sancerre winemakers, and out of their 30 hectares of Sauvignon Blanc consider La Damnée their best.