FRANCOIS CROCHET

Just southwest of the hilltop town of Sancerre lies the tiny commune of Bué, long regarded as one of the appellation’s greatest villages. Pierre Bréjoux, former Inspector General of the AOC board, once remarked that the wines of Bué were so compelling that “one would like to have a throat as long as a swan’s neck so as to taste them better.”

The Crochet family is deeply rooted here, with several domaines bearing the name across the village. Over the past two decades, however, François Crochet has emerged as one of Bué’s leading growers, producing some of the most articulate and site-driven wines in contemporary Sancerre.

After studying oenology in Beaune, François worked with Bruno Clair in Burgundy, completed a stage at Château Angélus in Bordeaux, and spent time in New Zealand before returning home to take over his father Robert Crochet’s estate in 1998. His first vintage followed in 2000.

Today, François and his wife Carine farm more than 12 hectares across Bué, Crézancy, Sancerre, and Thauvenay. The vineyards have been farmed biodynamically since 2017 and are certified organic and biodynamic.

The domaine’s Sauvignon Blanc vineyards span Sancerre’s three major terroirs: caillottes (chalky limestone), terres blanches (clay-limestone marl), and silex (flint). François bottles many of the top parcels separately, including Les Amoureuses, Le Grand Chemarin, Le Chêne Marchand, and Les Exils.

Fruit is harvested entirely by hand and whole-bunch pressed to preserve freshness and precision. Since 2019, fermentations have relied exclusively on indigenous yeasts. Aging takes place in a combination of stainless steel, large wooden vats, concrete, and ovoid vessels, depending on the cuvée and terroir.

François tends to harvest relatively early, preserving freshness without sacrificing ripeness. The wines are textural and concentrated yet always driven by chalky tension, mineral precision, and energy. They stand among the finest terroir expressions not simply of Bué, but of Sancerre itself.