Eric Louis

Eric Louis

Eric Louis represents a tradition of winemaking in the central Loire Valley. Founded four generations ago by great-grandmother Pauline, the winery today specializes in Sauvignons from the vineyards around Sancerre, Pouilly Fumé, and Menetou Salon. Sustainable methods are used in the vineyards, often harvesting at night or early in the morning to ensure the characteristic freshness of the Sauvignon Blancs. The result is crisp, cool-climate wines with a wide range of flavors.
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About Eric Louis

Located in the Centre Loire, the Eric Louis winery currently comprises 35 hectares of vineyards around Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Menetou-Salon, Quincy, and Reuilly. Founded in 1860 by his great-grandmother Pauline, Eric now runs the estate in the fourth generation and, with the 2023 vintage, converted entirely to organic farming. This approach helps to further reveal the terroir characteristics. The vines grow here on a mosaic of flint, limestone, and clay-limestone, which is directly reflected in the aromatic profile of the wines.

View of Sancerre behind the vineyards

Eric and his team harvest at night or in the early morning hours to ensure the grapes arrive in the cellar as cool and fresh as possible. The grapes are then pressed slowly and gently using pneumatic presses, followed by spontaneous fermentation in temperature-regulated stainless steel tanks. Aging takes place on the fine lees, partially under anerated conditions, to minimize sulfurization while maximizing the freshness and fruitiness of the wine. The larger Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumés are aged in oak barrels from the Tronçais and Bertranges forests.

The diversity of the soils gives Eric plenty of scope to emphasize different typicities. The base wines, Sauvignon Vin de France and Chardonnay Vin de France, are juicy, fresh, fruit-forward white wines that are incredibly approachable and simply delicious. The Sancerre AOP Cul de Loup has a very ethereal aroma and displays plenty of mineral tension on the nose. The Sancerre AOP Les Montachins displays more yellow fruit and slate smoke on the nose and concludes with a salty finish. Eric Louis also makes a simply stunning Crémant de Loire Blanc Brut , reminiscent of Champagne and unsurpassed in accessibility and refreshment. A fantastic winery from the Loire that undeservedly flies completely under the radar here.