Le Roi Depierres Sancerre

Le Roi Depierres Sancerre is listed as a white wine from Massachusetts, United States, under the Esplanda label. The name points to the Sancerre style, which is traditionally built on Sauvignon Blanc. The listing doesn't confirm the grape, vintage, ABV or tasting profile, so what follows describes what that style usually delivers and what to expect from a bottle sold under this name. Wines in this mold are typically dry and light to medium in body. They have no tannin to speak of and are usually unoaked or aged in neutral vessels, so the fruit stays clear and the texture stays clean. In the glass, expect crisp citrus such as lemon, lime and grapefruit, along with green apple or gooseberry. A flinty, mineral or cut-grass edge is common in the style. Acidity is the backbone, so the wine should taste bright and lively, and it usually finishes dry with a short to medium, refreshing length. Fruit-forward, high-acid whites like this pair well with salty and tangy foods. Fresh goat cheese is the classic match. Oysters, shrimp, grilled white fish, ceviche and green-herb dishes with parsley, chives or asparagus also suit it. A lemony vinaigrette salad or a light chicken dish works if you want something simpler. Serve it well chilled, around 45 to 50°F (7 to 10°C). About two hours in the refrigerator, or 20 minutes in an ice bath, gets it there. Decanting isn't needed. If it comes out too cold, a few minutes in the glass will open the aroma. A standard white wine glass or a slightly tapered tulip shape will concentrate the citrus and mineral notes without letting the freshness fade. Bottles in this style are generally meant for drinking young, within a year or two of release, while the acidity and citrus are at their most vivid. Unless the label or producer says otherwise, treat it as a drink-now white and not a cellar candidate.