Alphonse Mellot Les Pénitents Pinot Noir 2020 The Wine Gate Shop
France

Loire – Côtes de la Charité

Alphonse Mellot Les Pénitents Pinot Noir 2020

Shipped in original cardboard case

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The estate

In 1513, the records of Sancerre mention the Mellot family.
The Mellot family, vinegrowers ad wine merchants, was again mentioned during the siege of the town. They pursued their patient labours and continued to gain recognition because César Mellot was appointed as Wine Advisor to Louis XIV in 1698.
At the beginning of the XIX century, Alphonse Mellot founded a tavern in Sancerre where one could savour the local wines and so began the flourishing trade that was to continue.


In 1881, he was granted a licence to ship his wine throughout France and all over the world. This marked the beginning of a pacific conquest which has been pursued and developed by the family business from father to son ever since, with the eldest son continuing to bear the name of the founder Alphonse.

The vineyard

The wines are produced from the upper Sancerre vineyard, the most famous of which is the « Domaine La Moussière  », one single vineyard of over thirty hectares.
Its ideally exposed location of the south western tip of Sancerre, its chalk soil and its specific sub-soil are all perfect conditions of the cultivation of the vine according the biodynamic principles (Certificated by Ecocert and Biodyvin).


White wine is produced from the noble grape called « Sauvignon Blanc» with small, very tightly packed grapes, that is amongst the oldest known varieties.
Sancerre has an eminent position in the hierarchy of white wines thanks to its great finesse, its bouquet and fruitiness.
Red and rosé Sancerre are produced from the « Pinot noir » grapes, particularly from the older vines.

The Wine

Les Pénitents, a cuvee produced from a vineyard that was almost destroyed by phylloxera in the late 19th century but whose renown goes back to the 12th century, when it was planted and farmed by Cluniac monks, who were gifted the land by Etienne, Count of Sancerre.
Now reduced in size to some fifty hectares, it was brought back to life in the late 1980s thanks to the dedication of winegrowers in love with their art. Located on the hillsides of Nièvre just thirty-five kilometres from the family’s Sancerre base and classified as IGP Côtes de la Charité, the vineyard is
crossed by the Way of Saint James of Compostela – whence the cuvee’s name.

Information

  • Domain Alphonse Mellot
  • Vineyard Centre
  • Color
    Red
  • Vintage 2020
  • Variety 100% Pinot Noir
  • Culture Biodynamic
  • Alcohol degrees14.8°

Tasting Notes

Eye, bouquet, palate

A nose opening to aromas of red fruits, a deep crimson robe and a crisp, sensual palate with an excellent fresh finish of real finesse.

Temperature

14°

Drinking window

2023-2030

Wine and food pairing

Les Pénitents red goes perfectly with marinated meats or grilled dried sausage, filleted duck breast with a pepper sauce or sauteed veal with tomatoes.