Henri Bourgeois, Sancerre, d'Antan

In a lovely sweet spot now, and quite balanced despite the ripeness and high alc (14%) though not for those who prefer cooler expressions. Ripe lush gooseberry, honeymelon, grass and flint on the nose. Palate is dense and ripe with a good dose of “cat pee” flinty minerality and ripe melon, abricot and elderflower. Long finish and quite sappy

Nine months after the prior: Substantial, with significant depth. Nicely in balance, despite showing more alcohol / heat than we would wish. (By comparison, we liked the 2017 considerably more.) Still quite enjoyable over three nights, gassed in between.

One month after the prior: This again shows as more ripe / hot compared to what we would prefer — but nevertheless, quite enjoyable over three nights.

Medium golden straw in color. Our benchmark has been the 2017 bottling, and by comparison, this hotter vintage —clocking in at 14 percent ABV — is not in the same league, at least at this point. Still, it shows complexity and was quite enjoyable over three nights.

Sancerre vs Pouilly-Fumé (K&L Wine Merchant - Redwood City) : Nose of intense deep pears with a nice prickliness that tickles the nose and with a nice lift as well. Wet stones with dried earth round out the remaining aromas. Palate consisted of deep pear notes with a blend of white flowers and something that reminds you of honey but not exactly (take away the heavy sweetness, any waxiness and any bitterness). Finishes with deep bitter stones and a bit …

Olga going away party (Jerar) : The wine is very fresh, tight, austere, a touch flinty, smoky, citrus peel, grapefruit. In the palate, the iwne is again equally tight, reductive even, quite aggressive at first, very youthful. The fruit is in the back, medium body, high acidity, long finish

Green apple, wet stone, silex, smokey. Very layered wine. Great.