Henri Bourgeois 2025 Pure Sauvignon Blanc, Loire Valley

It may be too lazy or dismissive to refer to this delightful wine merely as a “baby Sancerre,” although it is crafted by one of the giants of Sancerre from grapes grown just outside the popular region.  The aroma certainly signals “Sancerre”, with some sassy, yet handsome fruit flavors (concentrated grapefruit, perhaps?).  It also features a solid middle core and a lasting finish, which is what we expect from a more expensive wine.  We’ve encountered many white Sancerres that didn’t perform as well as this incredible bargain—this is Sauvignon Blanc at its most appealing.

The respected Sancerre house Henri Bourgeois has rebranded its “Petit Bourgeois” line as “Pure” with the 2025 vintage.  Our first “Pure” arrival a couple months ago was the 2025 “Pure” rosé, a crisp pink wine made from minerally Pinot Noir.  Recently this Sauvignon Blanc was presented to us, and the staff was impressed enough to think of it as an ideal wine for the summer heat.

The Henri Bourgeois family have been winemakers in the Sancerre area for over 330 years—that’s more than 10 generations, as old as the Salem Witch Trials, to give you some perspective.  Sauvignon Blanc has been grown in the region since the 1500s and really took a foothold after the phylloxera disaster of the 1870s.  A favorite in Paris oyster bars since the end of World War II, Loire Sauvignon Blancs have never been more popular as now, whether Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, or wines like this.  You’ll love the Bourgeois “Pure” and keep coming back for more.