Dom. Alphonse Mellot Sancerre La Moussiere Rouge 2022 (750ml) *

Sancerre is best known for its whites, but the appellation also produces Pinot Noir, and this is that red side of the region: the La Moussière Rouge from Domaine Alphonse Mellot, a 2022 grown in the Loire's upper reaches. Pinot here tends toward a lighter, cooler-climate frame than its Burgundian cousins, and this bottling reflects that lineage.

The wine opens with soft, easy fruit, generous and welcoming on the palate before things tighten. The finish turns firmer, showing a tannic austerity that sits in contrast to that gentle entry, likely a mark of the small, concentrated berries produced in a dry growing season. It's a touch reserved at the close for now, so give it some time in the cellar to soften and knit together.