The Joseph Mellot label is the result of five centuries of winemaking expertise, beginning with Pierre-Etienne Mellot in 1513. By the late 1600s, Cesar Mellot was advising King Louis XIV on wine.

Today, under Catherine Corbeau-Mellot's direction since 2005, Domaine Joseph Mellot stands as the foremost producer and ambassador for the Grands Vins du Centre-Loire.

La Chatellenie comes from 22 hectares of siliceous-limestone soils loaded with flint — the terroir that gives Sancerre its electric minerality. The vines average 25 years old, harvested mid-September, aged on lees in stainless steel to preserve every ounce of the Loire's characteristic snap.

Pale gold with green highlights. The nose opens with lemon, citrus, pear, and floral touches over a bed of stony mineral notes.

The palate is juicy and rich but stays light and lively — great balance, wonderful minerality, sea salt, flinty chalk. The finish is crisp, dry, and very long, with tart fruit and a salty mineral edge.