Domaine Thomas Sancerre - Le Pierrier

Julien, freshly qualified from the Lycée Viticole in Beaune, honed his winemaking skills at Domaine Tollot-Beaut before returning to the family domaine in 2005. Influenced by Burgundy's terroir-centric philosophy, every decision at Domaine Thomas aims to preserve and convey the unique terroir from vineyard to bottle.

Julien's commitment to sustainable practices is evident as he moved away from herbicides, adopted soil work for weed management, and introduced biodynamics to the entire domaine in 2012, following a trial on selected parcels in 2010. While the majority of Thomas' vines thrive in Verdigny with caillotes soils, they also hold vineyards near Pouilly-Fumé, known for Sancerre's argiles à silex.

Domaine Thomas distinguishes itself through wild yeast fermentation, a rarity in an appellation where selected yeasts prevail. Extended lees aging and judicious sulfur use further contribute to the uniqueness of their wines.

The Sancerre 2020, Le Pierrier, crafted from 100% Sauvignon, stood out in a blind tasting of 20 domaines. This cuvée, a blend of all 'caillotes' parcels with 25-year-old vines on average, undergoes stainless steel vinification and a minimum one-year aging period. Exhibiting texture uncommon for Sancerre, it displays restraint and precision, emphasizing terroir over simple varietal character.