Nothing says Springtime like Sancerre and nothing says, "enjoy me now" more than the 2016 Domaine du Nozay Sancerre.

This is a Sancerre showstopper!

Just outside the town of Sainte-Gemme in the northernmost corner of Sancerre, are the steep, bowled vineyards of Domaine du Nozay (not to be confused with Chateau du Nozay).

This organic and biodynamic wine displays the Sainte-Gemme subregion's terroir with its chalk and dry, mineral-driven prominence — this is no surprise as Sainte-Gemme is the closest village to Chablis.

What we love most about this wine is the clear underlay of chalk-dust and bristling energy - a testament to the biodynamic farming, which allows the pure fruit and terroir to emerge.

The wine stops well short of a typical ripe and extracted Sancerre. Rather, it is dry, textured and graceful. Notes of muskmelon, lemon zest, wildflower and salty white peach on a bright, almost rustic, frame. Refreshing, it shows excellent typicity that speaks more of the rocks beneath the soil than the fruit above it. Fantastic!

An additional point of interest: Cyril (the winemaker and owner) knows a thing or two about standout wines; he is the nephew of the legendary Aubert de Villaine of Domaine de la Romanée Conti (his mother, Marie-Helène, is Aubert’s sister).

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Simply delicious!