Alphonse Mellot

Alphonse Mellot is a wine producer located in Sancerre, France and is best known for its Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir wines from the famous La Moussière vineyard. Local records mention the Mellot family in connection with wine dating back to 1513, yet it was in 1881 that Alphonse Mellot received a license to ship his wines worldwide, marking the beginning of successive generations of family ownership from father to son.

The La Moussière vineyard covers more than 30 hectares (74 acres) of Kimmeridgian limestone and Saint Doulchard marl soils. The vineyard faces south, receiving ample sunlight for grapes to ripen in the region's cool continental climate.

Grapes are harvested by hand into small trays so that the fruit isn't damaged on its way to the cellars. The Pinot Noir goes through malolactic fermentation in barrel and is aged for around 14 months. Depending on the vintage, the white Sancerre wines are aged on fine lees for an average of 10 to 12 months.

Alphonse Mellot's portfolio is made up of three white and four red Sancerre wines. The estate's top red, Gènèration XIX, has been produced for 62 years on a single hectare (2.5 acres) of land, and around 2800 bottles are produced annually. The top white, also called Gènèration XIX, is produced from 87-year-old Sauvignon Blanc vines. About 6000 bottles of this Sancerre are produced annually.