WINE

Sancerre Blanc ’Le Vallon’, Dom. Balland-Chapuis

One step up the Sancerre ladder comes the delicious ‘Le Vallon’, which spends just a touch longer maturing on its lees for added depth and richness of fruit. There is a wealth of broad, baked apple fruit and spice on the nose that really does invite. The palate balances tarte tatin apple and spice with pear and even subtle hints of fresh mandarin orange, but everything is in balance here; good acidity to balance the richness of the fruit. This wine would be beautiful with scallops (Coquilles St. Jacques, perhaps), creamier fish dishes, or a warm goat’s cheese and walnut salad.