Why it matters
The producer
Domaine de la Garenne works in Sancerre with white wines that divide into two cuvée formats. Les Bouffants is a single vineyard bottling, while Alliance Blanc is a multi terroir blend. Both wines use temperature controlled stainless steel vats and ageing on fine lees. Fine lees are the small sediment left after fermentation; time on them can add a fuller texture while the stainless steel vessel leaves no oak flavour.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
The Loire Valley appellation of Sancerre gives both bottles their geographic name. Domaine de la Garenne's range then narrows or widens the address within that appellation: Les Bouffants comes from one vineyard, while Alliance Blanc combines Caillottes calcaires, Terres Blanches argilo calcaires and Silex. A single vineyard wine keeps one named place together; a multi terroir blend places several soil categories in one bottle.
Wines to know
The range in view
Les Bouffants is the single vineyard cuvée. Alliance Blanc is the broader blend, with 72% Caillottes calcaires, 20% Terres Blanches argilo calcaires and 8% Silex. Both are white Sancerres. The range sets a named vineyard wine beside a blend assembled from three terroir categories.
Les Bouffants has beautiful citrus scents and sharp minerality. Its nose is chalky and focused, with grapefruit, then the palate shows clear mineral notes, good persistence and an extended finish. Alliance Blanc has citrus and white fleshed fruit, followed by mineral and floral aromas.