Sancerre Blanc, Domaine du Pre Semele 2025

This is classic Sancerre, right on the money, with a perfect balance of ripe fruit and crisp acidity. Grown on terres blanches clay-chalk soils, it has a lovely ripeness that shines through. Aged on its lees for 10 months, it's full of crunchy grapefruit and zesty lime, with a subtle herbaceous touch for extra depth. The long, mouthwatering finish brings a hit of saline minerality, making it unmistakably true to its terroir. Fresh and precise, it ticks all the boxes.

Roast chicken or pork? Spot on - the crisp acidity keeps things fresh. Grilled fish? Absolutely. And shellfish, of course - the saline minerality and citrus zip make it an effortless match.

Since taking over from his father, Clément Raimbault - along with his brother Julien - has turned Domaine du Pré Semelé into one of Sancerre's rising stars. Fastidious, verging on obsessive, he's determined to make the best wine possible from their 20 hectares of clay-limestone vineyards near the village of Maimbray. The vines are carefully managed using the lutte raisonnée philosophy - sustainable practices, in plain English - ensuring quality without unnecessary intervention. They may not be the biggest or most famous name in Sancerre, but Clément's passion, paired with serious winemaking skill, means there's excellent value to be found here.