André Dezat's domaine now has 38 hectares in Sancerre spread across six communes covering the three soil types as well as four hectares (Domaine Thibault) in Pouilly-Fumé. The domaine is now run by Simon and Louis Dezat.
The other Sancerre is from Etienne Daulny, who is also based in Verdigny. Daulny has 15 hectares of vines spread across some 50 parcels of vines. Neither of these producers has a website but there is a clip here of Etienne Daulny on You Tube.
2008 Sancerre Etienne Daulny (Colchester Wine Company £11.66 per mixed case – £12.95 a bottle)
2008 Sancerre André Dezat et fils, Les Celliers Saint-Romble (Colchester Wine Company £13.95 or £15.50 a bottle)
The Dezat is less aromatic on the nose largely I suspect due to the fruit being picked riper. Lightly citric – hints of grapefruit and some gooseberry, too. Softer rounder on the palate without greenness of the Daulny. Some concentration and ripeness with vibrant acidity that is a mark of 2008. This is altogether a much more attractive Sancerre. It is a good aperitif and would work well with shellfish as well as goats' cheese dishes. Although the Dezat is £2 more than the Daulny is is worth paying the extra.
Hugo Rose MW practising sabrage with a bottle of Cordon Negro: Château de Preuillac, April 2006
These wines were supplied by the Colchester Wine Company. Although the company was founded in 2003, this is perhaps best described as new venture by the Wheeler family after the sale of Lay & Wheeler to Majestic Wine earlier this year. Hugo Rose MW is their general manager with Richard Wheeler, John Thoroughgood amongst others from the old Lay & Wheeler stable involved. Hugo told me that under their agreement with Majestic that they have to stay out of the en primeur market for two years and he is not sure whether they will want or find it easy to venture back into en primeur when they are free to do so.