The Wines of Loire

Timed Online Auction, 1 - 8 May 2023

Session 1
About the Session

The Loire Valley is a large region that follows the longest river of France. The Loire is an exceptional place to find lean, racy, white wines, including those of Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadet. Red varieties include Cabernet Franc, Gamay and Cot (Malbec), which produces herbaceous, rustic reds.


Sold for

ZAR 5 277
Lot 85
  • Lucien Crochet; Sancerre Collection; 2009 - 2016; 10 (1 x 10); 750ml
  • Lucien Crochet; Sancerre Collection; 2009 - 2016; 10 (1 x 10); 750ml


Lot Estimate
ZAR 5 000 - 7 000
Selling Price
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
ZAR 5 277

About this Item

2009 - 2016 Sancerre Collection
10 (1 x 10) 750ml

Domaine Lucien Crochet has been producing wines in Sancerre since the early 1950’s. The organically farmed vineyards cover over 35 hectares, mostly planted to Sauvignon Blanc with a small amount of Pinot Noir for red and rosés. Today, the ultra-modern winery makes wines as naturally as possible using indigenous yeasts and through hand picking, careful selection of the grapes and long, slow ageing sur lie produces taut, sophisticated and age-worthy Sancerre.

The lot consists of the following Lucien Crochet wines:
Sancerre Cuvée Prestige Rouge 2009 (1 x 750ml)
Sancerre La Croix du Roy Rouge 2012 (1 x 750ml)
Sancerre Cuvée Prestige Blanc 2013 (1 x 750ml)
Sancerre Le Chêne 2013 (1 x 750ml)
Sancerre Blanc 2014 (1 x 750ml)
Sancerre La Croix du Roy Rouge 2014 (1 x 750ml)
Sancerre Le Chêne 2014 (1 x 750ml)
Sancerre Le Chêne Marchand 2014 (1 x 750ml)
Sancerre Blanc 2016 (1 x 750ml)
Sancerre Le Chêne Marchand 2016 (1 x 750ml)

Provenance

Restaurant Mosaic

Critics Ratings

Lucien Crochet Sancerre Cuvée Prestige Rouge 2009
'Crochet’s 2009 is all about terroir-expressiveness: dried black plums, black cherry, huckleberry, and citrus rind roll out of the glass along with damp forest floor, pu’er tea, vintage leather, preserved meat (an aroma like no other!), crushed stone, and myriad baking spices. For French Pinot Noir, the palate is medium-plus, broadly layered, and impressively deep. You’ll be utterly fascinated by the interplay of savory earth and dried, ripe forest fruits that linger on a 60+ second finish, which speaks to the immense quality of the wine.'- SommSelect.com

Lucien Crochet Sancerre La Croix du Roy Rouge 2012
Winemaker notes: 'Ruby red, brilliant. The nose has intense aromas of Pinot, notes of leather and roasting. The palate has notes of crunchy grape, cherry fruitstone, a bit of faded rose, beautiful texture, the oak is just a support to give complexity, the tannins are silky, mineral on the finish reminding the terroir.'

“This wine may be the best-kept secret in serious French Pinot Noir. Not only is it stunning now, it has clear aging potential—not something we typically see at this modest price point.” - Ian Cauble, Master Sommelier

Lucien Crochet Sancerre Cuvée Prestige Blanc 2013
According to reviews from past years, the 2013 vintage of the Cuvée Prestige Blanc was well-received by critics. Wine Enthusiast gave it a score of 92 points, describing it as "rich and full, with plenty of ripe fruit flavors as well as a tangy, mineral texture." Wine Spectator also awarded it 92 points, saying it had "a steely edge to the white peach, lemon and flint flavors, backed by a lingering salted butter finish."

Lucien Crochet Sancerre Le Chêne 2013
Wine Enthusiast gave the 2013 vintage 94 points, describing it as "a structured and still young wine that needs to age. Its richness and fruit are there, but the tannins and the powerful mineral texture are still developing." Wine Spectator also awarded it 92 points, praising its "smoky, savory notes that accent the grapefruit, lime and passion fruit flavors, all backed by a bright, mouthwatering acidity."

Lucien Crochet Sancerre Blanc 2014
The grapes for this cuvée of Sancerre are sourced from the vineyards in Bué, Vinon and Crézancy. As with all the whites at the domaine, this wine sits in contact with the fine lies for a considerable period of time with the racking being done late in the spring following harvest. The resulting wine is pungent and distinctive with mineral and grapefruit flavors; great depth and texture.

Lucien Crochet Sancerre La Croix du Roy Rouge 2014
‘Sourced from several parcels on rocky white soil, this is a vibrant style of Pinot, full of energy with a crisp acidity and fresh red summer fruits. Medium-bodied with a nice balance between easy-drinking pleasure and layers of complexity. Tannins are ripe and this is in a great place to drink now. A very pretty wine, unforced and unpretentious, and all the better for it.’ - Christelle Guibert, Decanter.com, 91/100 (Oct 2019)

‘Cherries, slight sappiness, tart acidity, grippy tannins. Decent concentration, but pretty mean flavors.’ – Richard Hemming, JancisRobinson.com, 15/20 (Feb 2019)

Lucien Crochet Sancerre Le Chêne 2014
'Le Chêne Marchand 2014 from Domaine Lucien Crochet has a limpid pale yellow color . On the nose, you can see aromas of fresh grapes, white fruits, pear and chalk . The wine offers a nice profile on the palate , appearing crunchy with good volume and fat . The finish is long and mineral in the mouth. To be kept until 2020.' - Millesima

Lucien Crochet Sancerre Le Chêne Marchand 2014
'Le Chêne Marchand 2014 from Domaine Lucien Crochet has a limpid pale yellow color . On the nose, you can see aromas of fresh grapes, white fruits, pear and chalk . The wine offers a nice attack on the palate , appearing crunchy with good volume and fat . The finish is long and mineral in the mouth. To be kept until 2020.' - Millesima

Lucien Crochet Sancerre Blanc 2016
In the glass this wine has a pale, yellow colour with hints of gold. It gives off a powerful aromatic bouquet marked by notes of fleshy, ripe white fruits (peach, pear), white flowers, elderberry, and fresh almond. These aromas make way for a rich palate balanced by a certain freshness with a peppery side. - Idealwine.com

Lucien Crochet Sancerre Le Chêne Marchand 2016
This wine is produced from vineyards in the village of Bué that are planted uniquely to clay-limestone soils, known as “caillottes and griottes” which yield a wine of particularly fine quality and exceptional length. “Le Chene” maintains an elegant acidity in support of the ripe fruit of these well-positioned vines. Aromas of white fruit, peach then pear and pebble (terroir) The palate is very precise with a long mineral finish that is typical of the terroir. Hints of white fruit and a dash of pepper.

View all Lucien Crochet lots for sale in this auction