Bertrand Graillot Domaine de l'Estang Coteaux du Giennois, Loire, France

A Sauvignon Blanc that rewrites the script, the 2023 Bertrand Graillot Domaine de l'Estang Coteaux du Giennois offers a more textured, nuanced expression of the Loire. Grown in a trio of parcels on flinty, limestone-rich soils, this white is built on ripeness, lees aging, and a naturalist’s touch in the cellar—resulting in a wine that is simultaneously ample and mineral, plush and precise.

Product Details:

• Grape Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
• Alcohol: Not specified
• Soils: Clay-limestone and flint
• Fermentation: Native yeast fermentation with no thermoregulation
• Aging: 2 years on fine lees in steel and fiberglass tanks
• Sulfur Use: <50 mg/L added during élevage
• Farming: Organic (uncertified)
• Winemaker & Owner: Bertrand Graillot

Sensory Description:

Full of aromatic depth, this wine opens with ripe orchard fruit, light herbal undertones, and gentle floral notes. On the palate, it coats with density and dry extract, offering a textured, almost glyceric quality without sacrificing Loire-typical lift. A thread of precise minerality anchors the richness, resulting in a finish that is at once mouthfilling and mouthwatering.

Winemaker's Background:

Bertrand Graillot founded Domaine de l’Estang in 2004 after formative work in Beaune and stages in Burgundy’s top villages. The estate now spans 8 hectares in the Côteaux du Giennois and 2 hectares in Sancerre. Committed to low-intervention, hands-on farming and winemaking, Bertrand allows his wines to ferment spontaneously, complete malolactic fermentation, and rest on their lees for extended periods. Though unclassified, his organic approach and emphasis on texture and authenticity place his wines among the most distinctive in the region.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve chilled at 48–52°F. This wine’s generous body and mineral precision make it a great partner to roasted poultry, creamy seafood pastas, grilled trout, or vegetable terrines. Its lees-derived roundness also allows it to complement rich sauces and subtly spiced dishes.

Built with character and intent, the 2023 Bertrand Graillot Domaine de l'Estang Coteaux du Giennois is not your average Loire Sauvignon Blanc. Its natural craftsmanship, graceful weight, and sense of place elevate it far beyond the ordinary, ideal for drinkers who crave both freshness and substance.