Thomas-Labaille Sancerre “L’Authentique” 2025
Producer & history
Domaine Thomas-Labaille is a small, traditional estate based in Chavignol, one of Sancerre’s most celebrated villages. The domaine’s story began in the early 1950s, when Claude Thomas established the estate with a few hectares around Chavignol. His son-in-law, Jean-Paul Labaille, eventually took over, leaving his career as a civil servant to become a full-time vigneron after spending years assisting Claude during harvest.
The domaine has deliberately retained a traditional approach, with sustainable farming, significant old-vine material and hands-on vineyard work. Louis/Dressner notes that the estate’s steep Monts Damnés vineyards are too difficult for mechanical harvesting, requiring intensive manual work. The estate is approximately 11 hectares, with Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir planted on clay-limestone and Kimmeridgian limestone soils.
The wine
L’Authentique was originally labeled simply “Sancerre” and is the domaine’s multi-parcel estate bottling. The 2025 is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, sourced from approximately 6.5 hectares surrounding Chavignol, with vines averaging around 25 years old. The vineyards are sustainably farmed and hand harvested.
The wine is fermented with native yeasts in fiberglass and cement tanks, then aged on its lees in stainless steel for approximately four to six months. Importantly, the 2025 bottling is described as unfiltered, preserving texture and character.
2025 vintage
According to Louis/Dressner's harvest report, 2025 was exceptionally precocious in Sancerre, described as the earliest vintage since 1976. Yields were very low, but the quality indicators were encouraging: the harvested juices showed good acidity and balanced potential alcohols of approximately 13–14%.
Style & tasting profile
L’Authentique is a more terroir-driven, substantial style of Sancerre rather than a simple, lightweight aperitif wine. The producer describes its Chavignol Sancerre as showing a lightly tangy freshness with citrus notes, while the traditional élevage gives the wines additional texture and depth.
Expect bright lemon and citrus, fresh orchard fruit, subtle herbal notes and a distinctly mineral character, with lively acidity and a rounded, lees-derived texture. The overall impression is fresh, precise and energetic, but with enough depth and structure to work at the table.
