Domaine Franck Millet - 2014 "Sancerre" sauvignon blanc [France]

You may recall last August, I served a charcuterie with another Sancerre sauvignon blanc - a 2014 bottle from Domaine Patient Cottat. Today's wine is another entry from the Sancerre AOC, this time a 2014 sauvignon blanc from Domaine Franck Millet, located about two hours south of Paris in the village of Bué, Cher department, of the Centre-Val de Loire province.

Also known at the Loire Valley, this area is world-famous for making excellent wine. So what about this valley is so great? It's the soil. Soil is an important variable in winemaking - in fact, the most important. The minerals, composition, and bugs in the soil directly and dramatically affect the yield, quality, and character of the grapes grown therein. Many of the wines grown in the Loire Valley are grown in a soil called "Kimmeridgian" - a term used to describe a very minerally soil containing limestone, clay, and fossilized shells and coral. The result is a soil rich in nutrients and excellent for growing grapes; so excellent in fact that WineGeeks.com calls it "the most famous and important [wine soil] on Earth" and rated it #1 of all soils used to make wine. So let's dive in!

In the glass, it's clearish yellow - a little bit like a light gold. The nose is quite delicate - mostly some fresh flowers. I should note that I served this slightly chilled.

It's perfect - everything I'd expect from a Loire white...a low-sugar wine with strong mineral notes, some green melon flavors, and nice crispness, too - not at all buttery. It's mildly acidic and finishes with a steady, medium/full flavor, which is kind of the sweet spot in my humble opinion. This wine also delivers a slight tartness on the aftertaste, which adds a pleasant way to recall just how tasty this was!

Vinified in stainless steel, this fresh Sauvignon Blanc is a perfect example for wine from this area. For pairings, we served this with homemade rosemary / mint lamb shanks, mashed potatoes, and gravy jus, and I really liked to contrast between a crisp, fresh, white wine and a heavy, savory meal. It's not a common pairing, but it works.

If any of you are fans of clean, fresh Sauvignon Blanc with no bite, definitely seek out wines from the Loire Valley. At a cost of $24.99, I obtained this particular bottle a year or so ago from the former Charles Fine Wines, but it is available at select stores (as are other wines from this area - just look for the name Sancerre or Loire Valley) and enjoy!