This benchmark producer located in the village of Sancerre is one of the most respected in the region. Perhaps not as hard to find as Vacheron, nor as astronomically expensive as Vatan, but equally lauded if you’ve had the wines. Sancerre Blanc (from Sauvignon Blanc, naturally) seems to be the wine of the moment, but the surprise of a recent tasting I had with the Mellot estate’s ambassador were the elegantly made Pinot Noirs – Sancerre Rouge – some of which rivaled Burgundies I’ve had recently (specifically, the ‘La Moussiére’ rouge we carry). This bottling, labeled from the Côtes de la Charité IGP, is a short distance up the Loire River from Sancerre and shares nearly identical limestone soils. Underripe raspberry and tart pomegranate mingle with an earthy mineral-driven finish that checks all the boxes of French Pinot Noir for me. - Peter Plaehn, Surdyk's Wine Buyer