2024 Sancerre La Noue en Rosé from Claude Riffault - 10 cases that will go quickly
A shining star in Sancerre, Claude Riffault produces suave, textural and seemingly effortless wines.
Rebecca Gibb MW, vinous.com, August 2025
2024 Sancerre, La Noue en Rosé, Domaine Claude Riffault
£150 per 6 bottle case in bond
2024 Sancerre La Noue en Rosé, Domaine Claude Riffault
£150 per 6 bottle case in bond
There are few growers in Sancerre whose wines I recommend as consistently as those of Domaine Claude Riffault. Over the last decade, Stéphane Riffault has quietly established himself among the elite of the appellation, crafting wines of remarkable precision, texture and site expression. Having trained in Burgundy, his approach brings an extra dimension to his wines, with texture and detail often taking precedence over overt aromatics. As I have written before, I genuinely don't believe Sancerre gets much better than this.
A small parcel of his 2024 La Noue Rosé recently came to my attention, and I am delighted that someone tipped me off about it. This is not a rosé that conforms to modern fashion. It is not pale, anonymous and instantly forgettable. Instead, it possesses real character, nuance and substance.
Produced entirely from Pinot Noir grown on Kimmeridgian soils at around 250 metres of altitude, La Noue is a site more commonly associated with Riffault's red Sancerre. The 2024 comes in at a modest 12.5% alcohol, yet carries itself with considerably more presence than that figure might suggest.
What immediately struck me was how convincingly Pinot Noir it is. The nose offers an attractive suggestion of alpine strawberries and freshly crushed red berries, with a purity that leaves no doubt as to the grape variety. On the palate, there is a subtle textural richness, perhaps aided by a gentle touch of oak, which softens the wine's naturally vibrant acidity and lends a lightly creamy dimension. The result is beautifully poised, neither too taut nor too generous. As it opens in the glass, notes of ripe nectarine emerge, carried by an impressively juicy core of fruit. Beneath that fruit lies the mineral signature one hopes to find in fine Sancerre: a chalky, saline freshness that lifts and elongates the finish. Indeed, there is such brightness and energy here that one could almost be forgiven for imagining a hint of Sauvignon Blanc in the blend, though the wine remains unmistakably Pinot Noir from start to finish.
Most importantly, this is a rosé with genuine personality. It rewards attention, evolves in the glass and offers considerably more complexity than its modest price might suggest. It would make a superb partner to a wide range of lighter summer dishes, from grilled seafood and Mediterranean salads to charcuterie and simply prepared poultry.
To my mind, Riffault seldom puts a foot wrong. This is another success from a grower operating at an exceptionally high level and one that considerably outperforms expectations for the category.
We have secured just 10 cases and expect them to disappear quickly. Offered at £150 per 6 bottle case in bond