Best value Sancerre
(Image credit: Credit Unknown)

The small village of Sancerre in the Upper Loire Valley is renowned for its flint and limestone soils which help the Sauvignon Blancs here to gain a nervy, mineral character. Often regarded as a premium wine, there are examples that come in at a more wallet-friendly price. Scroll down to see our experts’ top picks.

‘No disrespect to New Zealand, South Africa or elsewhere, but Sancerre has something that sets it apart that the others can aspire to but can’t achieve. As Chablis does with Chardonnay,’ said Andy Howard MW in Decanter’s September 2016 issue Sancerre panel tasting.

‘Sancerre has this really different approach to Sauvignon Blanc, which almost doesn’t make it taste like Sauvignon Blanc, so Sancerre is the brand rather than the variety being the driving force.’

Jim Budd emphasised this point: ‘Sancerre sells itself, so you could almost understand producers sitting back and not striving to do better. There are Sancerre producers who rest on their laurels, but that isn’t true for the appellation’s top names like Vincent Pinard, Henri Bourgeois, Alphonse Mellot, Vincent Delaporte and other young stars coming through,’ he said.

Best value Sancerre wine to buy:

Top Sancerre

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Top Sancerre 2015 wines – panel tasting

View the top five 2015 Sancerres from Decanter's September 2016 issue panel tasting...

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Cave des Vins de Sancerre, Les Ruettes, Sancerre, Loire, France, 2018

My wines

91

This is a classic Sancerre made by the local cooperative. It has a nose of freshly cut grass and green apple, with a lifted hint of white blossoms. It’s herbal and crunchy on the palate, with green apple juice and bitter lime peel complexity which follows to the finish.

2018

LoireFrance

Cave des Vins de SancerreSancerre

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Cave des Vins de Sancerre, Les Ruettes Rosé, Sancerre, Loire, France, 2018

My wines

90

The 2018 vintage has delivered a great crop of rosés from across Europe. This bright Pinot Noir pink is moreishly rustic, savoury and leafy, packed with tangy redcurrants, tart strawberries and earthy minerals. Light, grippy and refreshing – a perfect pairing for baked salmon or ratatouille.

2018

LoireFrance

Cave des Vins de SancerreSancerre

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Tina Gellie
Tina Gellie
Content Director

Tina Gellie has worked for Decanter since 2008 across a number of editorial roles and is currently the brand's Content Director. An awarded wine writer and editor, she won several scholarships on the way to getting her WSET Diploma, and is a freeman of The Worshipful Company of Distillers. She has worked in wine publishing since 2003, including as Deputy Editor and Acting Editor of Wine International. Before her wine career she was a newspaper journalist for broadsheets in London and Australia.