Domaine Pastou

Sury-en-Vaux | Loire Valley

The petite village of Sury-en-Vaux, northwest of Sancerre, is the secret home of the extraordinarily character-rich wines of the Pastou family. Winemaker Jean-Marc Pastou for some 30 years has followed a singular calling to make the most honest and terroir-true Sancerre his few acres will give.

His vineyards sit at the highest point in the village, and his older vines (that he planted himself) grow on perfect terroir: the classic chalky stones and flinty soils which give Sancerre its characteristic zip.

We choose from the family’s few temperature-controlled tanks the most expressive, older-vine Sancerre Blanc to bottle unfined and unfiltered as our ‘La Côte de Sury,’ a special wine that captures the essence of what great Sancerre should be—enlivening and satisfying, and a great value, too. The estate’s Sancerre Rouge, a limited-release wine from peerless terroir, is exceptional; and the family’s few acres in Pouilly-Fumé deliver a smoky, racy Sauvignon Blanc each vintage.

FARMING & WINEMAKING

The family’s vineyards sit high up on the slope in the village of Sury, northwest of Sancerre. Soils are a mix of sand, “caillottes” (small chalky stones) and flint. Vines are on average 35 years old. Grapes are harvested by hand, and fermented on indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled, stainless-steel tanks; wines are aged in tank on fine lees, and bottled unfined and unfiltered.

WHITE WINES

Sancerre Blanc ‘La Côte de Sury’ Vieilles Vignes

From the highest, older-vine vineyards in Sury, northwest of Sancerre. This is Sauvignon Blanc in its purest form: aromas of chalk and lemon blossoms, a mouthful of freshly squeezed citrus and a sea-salty, tangy finish.

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Pouilly-Fumé

The estate’s mineral-rich vineyard soils are what puts the fumé, or “smoke,” in this peerless bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. Indeed, wines from the Pouilly-Fumé appellation share an added dose of mineral energy and aromatic incense than do bottles from across the river in Sancerre.

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RED WINES

Sancerre Rouge

With just a handful of acres on “terres blanches,” the chalky, mineral soils that define Sancerre, the Pastou family crafts a medium-bodied, delightful Sancerre Rouge — pure Pinot Noir. Great with charcuterie and a rustic baguette after a long day! Made exclusively in tank, so every bit of rubied, Pinot fruit is expressed without filter.