2005 Guillerault-Fargette Sancerre La Facétie

RJonWine.com

• By Richard Jennings
  3/30/2013, (See more on RJonWine.com...) 91 points

  (Guillerault-Fargette Sancerre La Facétie) Light medium yellow color; tart pear, tart grapefruit nose; rich, oily textured, ripe pear, ripe grapefruit, mineral palate; medium-plus finish 91+ points

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  2/1/2008, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (FACETIE Sancerre G-F) Sancerre Dear Friends, If you are into the highest-end Sancerre like Boulay’s Comtesse, this is quite a way to end the week. This wine is produced by Guillerault-Fargette, the owners of Caves du Prieure and it is their very best expression. It is the only wine that bears their name (instead of the winery) and they only produce 100-125 cases per vintage (each bottle is numbered). Without going into excessive detail on a Friday night, this is the 2005 and it has to be one of the last remaining unknown Sancerre at this level but it won’t be for long. Remember when Didier Dagueneau was unknown? This wine is produced from very old vines on pure limestone soil (actually rock) and every grape is hand picked, sorted and lightly pressed into old barrels by Guillerault and Fargette (no new oak is used). When you set out to make something this good, it takes a lot of work and it takes even more work to make a wine like this in a non-interventionist way with no mechanization or mechanical presses. In 2005, the grapes were basically perfect (in a similar way to Burgundy) and the result is a wine that will thrill you with its pent up energy, drive and liquefied rock poured into a bottle. This is what Sancerre is all about as it seduces with a deceptively creamy texture but the terroir quickly takes over and the lovely acids and natural green-tinged sap of Sauvignon last and last on the palate. It’s a shame that Sancerre of this level has to cost close to $30 but compared to the competition, this wine remains at the lower end price-wise for what it is. Expect grandiose praise when the powers that be get a hold of this (I don’t need to wait that long - I’m drinking one of these tonight). VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for electric reflection of vintage and site-place plus the ability to age - up to 15 years. ONE SHIPMENT ONLY directly from the winery cellar with perfect provenance EXTREMELY LIMITED (as noted above, only 100 cases were produced and you know how the Parisians love their Sancerre - that didn’t leave much for us) 2005 Guillerault-Fargette Sancerre “Facetie” Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Loire8170