Thierry Michaud

Thierry Michaud

If you like Sancerre, but are not looking to spend more than £10 a bottle, then the answer lies in this consistently excellent sauvignon from the Michauds. It has been one of our best-selling wines during the last couple of decades, showing the most appealing aspects of the grape, with its hints of redcurrant and gooseberry, and avoiding the downside of aggressive grassiness that characterises the majority of central Loire Sauvignons. There is still a desirable thirst quenching ‘cut’ of acidity however, something that is often lacking in the rather blander mass-produced examples emanating from grape processing facilities in, say, Chile or South Africa. Nor does it suffer from the somewhat fatiguing intensity, residual sweetness, and occasionally high alcohol of the popular New Zealand versions of the variety. The Michaud wine, in short, is a wonderfully refreshing wine at all times, delightful as an aperitif by itself with its hints of fresh hedgerows and elderflower, but versatile also with food. We would not want to be without it at any time of year.