Wines Sancerre Fournier Père et Fils - Les Belles Vignes - 2024

Viniou Reviews

Fournier Père et Fils' "Les Belles Vignes" Rosé 2024 from Sancerre AOC is a fine expression of Loire Valley winemaking. Crafted predominantly from Pinot Noir grapes, this rosé exhibits a crystalline pale salmon colour, inviting you into a world of delicate red fruit aromas—think wild strawberries, raspberries, and redcurrants. The palate is crisp and lively, marked by a lovely tension between vibrant acidity and subtle fruit ripeness, culminating in a refreshing mineral finish. The 2024 vintage, with its cooler spring and balanced summer conditions, promises wines of remarkable brightness and aromatic freshness. Traditional vinification methods preserve the purity of the fruit, and a brief skin contact achieves the wine’s alluring tint and gentle tannic structure.

Sancerre, part of the Central Vineyards within the Loire Valley, lies on a mosaic of flinty clay, limestone and chalk soils. The region enjoys a semi-continental climate with marked diurnal temperature swings, which allows grapes to ripen slowly, developing acidity and aroma complexity. Historically celebrated for its white Sauvignon Blanc, Sancerre has equally nurtured a reputation for elegant, dry pinot-based rosés. The terroir’s kimmeridgian marls and silex confer signature minerality and finesse, rendering Sancerre rosés both expressive and critically acclaimed.

This charming rosé pairs beautifully with Mediterranean dishes such as grilled prawns, Niçoise salad, or herbed chicken skewers. For a regional touch, consider goat’s cheese salads or freshwater fish—classic partners that echo the savoury freshness of the wine. Its linear profile and subtle fruit also make it an inspired match for Asian cuisine such as sushi or light Thai salads.

For optimal enjoyment, serve this wine well-chilled, ideally between 8-10°C. Pour into medium-sized white wine glasses to enhance its aromatic profile. This rosé will shine brightest in its youth, so enjoy while its vibrancy is at its peak, ideally within two years of the vintage.