The results

A stellar 55% of entries scoring Highly Recommended underlined the consistency in quality from these ripe, approachable wines. Tina Gellie reports on the discussion

THe 2015 vinTAGe is an attractive buy for consumers, said Andy Howard MW: ‘it’s an easy introduction to the joys of the region’s wines – yes, at the riper end of the spectrum still but with that flinty minerality underneath.’

He said there was a real stone fruit character in many of the wines submitted which ‘stood out as not very Sancerre’, but none ‘went over the line’ in terms of ripeness, with many in a more traditional, leaner style.

While there were no wines scored 95 points or above by all three tasters, the fact that 46 of the 83 entries (55%) were Highly Recommended points to how consistent the quality was in this line-up.

Jim Budd suggested that the differing preferences between the judges could be one reason why there were no Outstanding wines, but more likely was the fact that the best wines from the best producers had not been submitted. ‘The top producers are probably here, but they have sent in the wines they release earlier – entrylevel wines and those for earlier drinking,’ he said.

‘The prestige cuvées and single-vineyard wines will be released later this year. it’s speculation, but i’d say if we held this tasting in September when the top wines had been bottled and these entry wines had had more maturation, we may well have seen some higher scores.’

Chris Kissack agreed with Budd about how the lack of top wines may have affected scores, but nevertheless had been hoping for more from this line-up. ‘i just didn’t find any wines that touched the top end of the quality spectrum,’ he said. ‘These were just at the level below – still approachable, just not very complex. The structure, texture and acidity were sound, but for punchy acidity and still succulent fruit, look to the 2014s.’

The fruit purity and ‘lack of any lean or green notes’ impressed Howard, while the overt ripeness presented as ‘a tinge of botrytis and almost caramelised fruit flavours’ in some examples, which upset Kissack. Budd and Howard also lamented the fact there were not more wines under screwcap (just four) given the quality level