At A Glance
- Place
- Saint-Gemme, Sancerre
- Region
- Loire, France
- Appellation
- Sancerre
- Signature wine
- Le Paradis
- Defining feature
- Biodynamic farming and separate plot fermentation
The Producer
Each plot at Domaine du Nozay is hand picked and fermented separately. Indigenous airborne yeasts work in egg shaped stainless steel tanks, where fine lees circulate continuously during fermentation. Stainless steel is a neutral vessel, while lees circulation can add texture and breadth without adding oak flavour.
Cyril de Benoist returned to the family domaine in 1991 after viticultural training with his uncle Aubert de Villaine, the co manager of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, and managed the family's biodynamic Sancerre conversion.
Place
Saint-Gemme is the Sancerre hamlet closest to Chablis. Its northern position emphasizes deep, ancient limestone minerality. Limestone drains readily and can retain moisture, while its mineral character can make white wine feel stony and dry.
Wines
Le Paradis is a named Sancerre cuvée within Domaine du Nozay's range. The estate hand harvests plot by plot and ferments each plot separately, so individual parcels remain distinct through the first stage of winemaking. The range is organised by named bottles on the label and separate plots in the cellar.
In The Glass
Le Paradis opens with floral notes, citrus, candied orange and spice. Exotic fruit follows on the palate with mineral character and acidity. The wine is fragrant at the start and fresh through the palate, with roundness carrying across the finish.
A Bottle To Understand It
Open Le Paradis first because it is a named Sancerre cuvée. The label names one bottle, while the estate's broader cellar work keeps each plot hand picked and fermented separately.
Final Word
Domaine du Nozay is a northern Sancerre domaine where Saint-Gemme's ancient limestone minerality meets biodynamic farming, indigenous yeasts and separate plot fermentations. Le Paradis is the named cuvée.