Domaine Roc de l’Abbaye
Sancerre & Pouilly-Fumé
Sancerre & Pouilly-Fumé
‘Roc de l’Abbaye represents the quintessence of the Silex terroir’
The Domaine Roc de l’Abbaye is located at the foot of the ‘Clos du Roc’ parcel in Saint- Satur.
The Village of Saint-Satur is located on the banks of the Loire River (East side of the Sancerre appellation) and at the foot of the Colline de Sancerre. Gateway to the Sancerre appellation and to Burgundy on the other side of the river, Saint-Satur enjoys a privileged geographical position within the appellation. Located on the main road, at the heart of the Village, you will walk right in front of the Estate when crossing the appellation from East to West.
Saint Satur is a Christian martyr who died in Carthage in 203. The Archbishop of Bourges, Raoul de Turenne, transferred the relics of Saint Satur to Saint Pierre’s church in the village of Gordon. The village will henceforth bear the name of Saint-Satur.
The Countess Mathilde, Lord of the village, established the Abbey of Saint-Satur, to accommodate regular canon of Augustinians
It is the end of the 100 Years’ War. 30 years after having been destroyed by the English, the Abbey of Saint-Satur founds Domaine du Clos du Roc, 4 hectares of flint (Silex) terroir, facing full South, which is considered as the cradle of the Sancerre appellation. Seven years earlier, Nicolas Rollin and Guigone de Salins created the Hospices de Beaune in Burgundy. In 1463, François Villon, famous French medieval poet, came to the Abbey of Saint-Satur and drank wine from the Clos du Roc vines.
In the winemaking hamlet of Boisgibault, in Tracy-sur-Loire in the Pouilly-Fumé appellation, a winemaker and Countryside warden, André Mollet, was already harvesting Blanc Fumé (former name of Sauvignon Blanc) and Chasselas.
At the end of the 19th century, Phylloxera destroyed most French vineyards. A winemaker and railway employee, Alexandre Mollet, replanted the family estate in Tracy-sur-Loire and became the mayor of the village (1908-1920).
On his return from Germany, where he was held prisoner, Paul Mollet, Florian’s paternal grandfather, founded with other winegrowers of the Pouilly-Fumé appellation, the Cave Coopérative de Pouilly-sur-Loire. He remained its director until 1970 while continuing to run the family estate. Paul Mollet was the mayor of Tracy-sur-Loire from 1971 to 1977.
Pierre Maudry, Florian’s maternal grandfather, replanted the four hectares of Clos du Roc in Saint-Satur village.
Paul’s son, Jean-Paul Mollet, married Rose-Marie Maudry (daughter of Pierre Maudry). They brought their 2 family estates together under the name Domaine du Clos du Roc.
Florian, Jean-Paul’s son, started managing the family’s estate and continuing his father’s hard work. Credited for his talent in winemaking, Florian built a modern cellar next to the Clos du Roc parcel and successfully enlarged the family estate up to 17ha. Thanks to his expertise in France and abroad (Australia, South-Africa…) combined with his profound knowledge of flint (Silex) terroir, his wines have become the reference for epicureans in search for freshness, chiselled minerality, and refined aromas.
Until today, Saint-Satur is famous for its ancient Abbey and its flint terroir on the hillsides bordering the Loire river. Domaine Roc de l’Abbaye, managed by the Mollet family, continues to cultivate the iconic ‘Clos du Roc’ parcel as well as some finest examples of flint (Silex) terroirs of the region.
The Domaine Roc de l’Abbaye is one of the rare Sancerre estates with all of its parcels planted on the flint (Silex) Terroir. This represents only 15% of the vineyards of Sancerre. It is the most sought-after terroir because it produces wines with a ‘taut’ profile, with ‘gunflint’ aromas, a strong ‘minerality’ combined with finesse and power.
A bit of geology…
Our cellar is located a few hundred meters East of the ‘Sancerre fault’ which is a major geological event occurred some 360MYA at the end of the Devonian and at the beginning of the Carboniferous (Paleozoic Era).
It is the result of a major tectonic event that crossed France following a North-South axis by which the land moved away, creating pits and depressions. This explains the structure of the Loire area. Geologists estimate that the Sancerre fault has a vertical displacement of 100-150 meters and extends to the Massif Central (a highland region in the middle of Southern France).
The Sancerre fault is also at the origin of the alignment of the hills of Sancerre, St-Satur and the Orme aux Loups. The peaks and slopes of our flint clay hills are more recent, only 50 to 30MYA. They have at their upper part a conglomerate of white siliceous cement containing flint. The Western slopes of the hills have white or grey flint, sometimes black, as we find at the Roc de l’Abbaye.
‘The flint terroir gives a unique personality to the wines of the estate.’
Our 11.5ha vineyard in the Sancerre appellation is made up of 12 parcels (see the interactive map below) spread over 5 towns ; Bannay, Ménétréol, Saint-Satur, Sancerre and Thauvenay with a flint terroir. The vineyard is planted with Sauvignon Blanc on 10ha and with Pinot Noir on 1.5ha.
The plot of parcels with Pouilly-Fumé is located near the wine-growing hamlet of Boisgibault (which is part of Tracy sur Loire) where the Mollet family comes from. The entire vineyard of 6ha is planted with Sauvignon Blanc grapes.
Move your mouse over the interactive map
The ‘curetage’
Curetage is a curative practice for vines showing wood disease symptoms. It involves removing the tinder woods (yellow & soft woods) with a small saw, so that the affected vines can survive and continue to grow in the following years.
On average ~6000 vines of Clos du Roc are cured every year and this practice allows us to ensure the sustainability of our old vines.
Passionate about viticulture and winemaking, Florian with the help of his parents Jean-Paul and Marie-Rose undertook the construction of a modern cellar on the historic site of the Domaine Roc de l’Abbaye at the heart of Saint-Satur in 2000.
Made of multiple small stainless-steel tanks in order to vinify each parcel separately, it became a functional cellar which allows the best of each parcel to be revealed.
The best cuvées marketed as the ANTIQUE range, as well as our cuvée Parcellaire, our single vineyard wines Roc de L’Abbaye, are aged in barrels of 228 litres in vaulted cellars built in the 17th century.
Discover our range of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé wines. We offer the cuvée PARCELLAIRE with its legendary finesse, our cuvées ANTIQUES which are more concentrated and intense, and our cuvées TRADITIONS which reveal the purity of the Silex terroir. Our estate wines are expanded by a selection of Loire appellation wines vinified by Florian for your ultimate joy!
Find the list of articles and awards won by the Domaine throughout the years.
Dated | Cuvée | Millesime | Awards | Accolades | Find out more |
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11 24 | Antique Sancerre Rouge | 2022 |
Luxury Touch |
To consult | |
10 24 | Antique Pouilly-Fumé | 2023 |
Délidinitié |
To consult | |
10 24 | Antique Sancerre White | 2023 |
Senior Actu |
To consult | |
10 24 | Antique Sancerre Rouge | 2022 |
Quotidien Libre |
To consult | |
10 24 | Antique Sancerre White | 2023 |
Singulars |
To consult | |
10 24 | Antique Pouilly-Fumé | 2023 |
Paris Frivole |
To consult | |
09 24 | Sancerre Rosé | 2023 |
90 pts/ A mellow, juicy and fruity rosé. Plenty of peaches, tangerines and mild spices. Medium-bodied with a supple and tangy character. Round, with a delicious touch of fruit on the mid-palate and a refreshing finish. Drink now |
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09 24 | Sancerre White | 2023 |
91 pts/ A textured, crisp and succulent Sancerre. On the nose aromas of apples, stones and wild herbs dominate, following through to a medium body with bright acidity. There is a vertical dimension here, with a focused stream of crunchy fruit mingling with the stony minerality. Flavorful finish with excellent length. Drink or hold. |
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09 24 | Pouilly-Fumé | 2023 |
91 pts/ Juicy, vivid and flavorful, with notes of dried mangoes, sliced apples and mild spices on the nose, following through to a medium body with fresh acidity. Well rounded and balanced, with a delicious stream of lemons and herbs on the palate and a persistent finish. Drink or hold. |
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07 24 | Sancerre White | 2023 |
Bettane + Desseauve |
To consult | |
07 24 | Pouilly-Fumé | 2023 |
Bettane + Desseauve |
To consult | |
06 24 | Pouilly-Fumé | 2023 | |||
06 24 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | |||
06 24 | Sancerre White | 2023 | |||
06 24 | Antique Pouilly-Fumé | 2022 | |||
04 24 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 |
88/100 |
To consult | |
03 24 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 |
93/100 |
To consult | |
02 24 | Sauvignon Blanc IGP | 2022 | |||
02 24 | Sancerre Red | 2020 | |||
02 24 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2020 | |||
02 24 | Sancerre White | 2022 | |||
02 24 | Pouilly-Fumé | 2022 | |||
12 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
12 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
12 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
12 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
12 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
11 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
11 23 | Menetou-Salon White | 2022 |
91pts / Medium-bodied white with lemon rind, aniseed, fennel and sliced pears on the nose. It’s fresh and bright with a gentle spiciness to the citrus and stone fruit. Drink now. |
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11 23 | Sancerre Rosé | 2022 |
91pts / Fruity with raspberries, cherries and strawberries on the nose. Medium body with succulent acidity. Mellow and consensual with a berry-like finish. Drink now. |
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11 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
11 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 |
91pts / Charming on the nose with aromas of spiced apples, fennel, dried herbs, sweet spices and some stones. It’s medium-bodied, mineral and well-balanced. Lively and textural with a precise finish. Drink now. |
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11 23 | Pouilly-Fumé | 2022 |
91pts/ A medium-bodied and delicious white with apples, white fruits and flowers on the nose. Round and fruity with a caressing touch and a fresh, flavorful finish. Drink now. |
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11 23 | Antique Pouilly-Fumé | 2022 |
92pts / A seducing nose of apples, baked peaches, baked lemons and white flowers. Medium-bodied, mellow and round. It’s fruity, creamy and consensual. Drink now. |
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11 23 | Sancerre White | 2022 |
91pts / Fresh lemons, apples and flowers on the nose following through to a medium body with fresh acidity. Fruity and balanced with a zesty core of lemons at the center and a flavorful finish. Drink now. |
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11 23 | Sancerre Red | 2022 |
90pts / Strawberries, raspberries and a touch of seaweed on the nose. Cool, fresh and fruity with a medium body, silky tannins and soft finish. Drink now. |
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11 23 | Antique Sancerre White | 2022 |
91pts / A well-rounded white with aromas of lemon zest, apples, flint and a touch of mustard seeds. Medium body with bright acidity. Precise and well-crafted with volume on the mid-palate. Succulent finish with a mineral edge to it. Drink or hold. |
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11 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
10 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
09 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
09 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
09 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
09 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
09 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
09 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
09 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
09 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
09 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
09 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
09 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
09 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
09 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
09 23 | Pouilly-Fumé | 2022 | To consult | ||
09 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
09 23 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2022 | To consult | ||
09 23 | Pouilly-Fumé | 2022 | To consult | ||
09 23 | Antique Sancerre White | 2022 | To consult | ||
09 23 | Sancerre White | 2022 | To consult | ||
06 23 | Sancerre White | 2022 | To consult | ||
06 23 | Pouilly-Fumé | 2022 | To consult | ||
06 23 | Antique Sancerre White | 2022 | To consult | ||
06 23 | Antique Pouilly-Fumé | 2022 | To consult | ||
12 22 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2021 | To consult | ||
12 22 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2021 | To consult | ||
12 22 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2021 | To consult | ||
11 22 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2021 | To consult | ||
11 22 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2021 | To consult | ||
11 22 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2021 |
‘Chez Erwan’ visits during the 2022 harvest |
Link | |
10 22 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2021 | To consult | ||
09 22 | Sancerre White | 2021 | To consult | ||
09 22 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2021 | To consult | ||
09 22 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2021 | To consult | ||
09 22 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2021 | To consult | ||
2021 is a cooler vintage than 2020 which required more regular stirring of the fine lees. The wine develops more varietal aromas and freshness. The golden yellow colour is intensely brilliant. The nose develops a perfume of white flowers mixed with citrus notes. The mouth is tasty, fresh and supported by a persistent minerality. |
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08 22 | Antique Sancerre Rouge | 2020 | |||
Baked strawberries, cherries and some sweet cinnamon. A light cocoa dusting to the fruit, too. Medium body with wild strawberries and sour cherries. Very juicy, with a nice, fruit-expressive finish. Drink now. |
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08 22 | Sancerre Rosé | 2021 | |||
Aromas of dried cherries and strawberries here, together with some dried herbs and grapefruit pith. Round and creamy, with medium body and tangy acidity. Fresh and flavorful, with a fruity finish. Drink now. |
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08 22 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2021 | |||
Some green mango, sliced apple, guava and green berries on the nose. Quite austere and dry with razor-sharp acidity. Pure and tangy, though a little demanding. Drink now. |
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08 22 | Sancerre White | 2021 | |||
Mineral and tangy nose with pure gooseberries and quince that extend to the linear and fresh-toned palate. Lots of verve, with mineral allure and freshness. Drink now. |
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08 22 | Menetou-Salon Rouge | 2020 | |||
Wild berries, crushed blueberries and hints of baked plums and sweet spices on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with bright, vivid acidity. Not complex, but fresh and lively. Drink now. |
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08 22 | Antique Sancerre White | 2021 | |||
Lovely purity here, with flint, golden berries, white asparagus and wet stones on the nose. This is quite bright and tangy, with tempting minerals and guava on the palate. Limey and textured. Delicious now. |
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08 22 | Antique Pouilly-Fumé | 2021 | |||
Lovely lemon zest, minerals, herbs, green mango and flint on the nose. A medium-to full-bodied Pouilly-Fumé with quite uncompromising, mouthwatering acidity and freshness. I love the texture and the fine austerity here, inviting you to drink glass after glass. Enjoy now. |
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07 22 | Sancerre White | 2021 | Link | ||
06 22 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2020 | |||
06 22 | Antique Sancerre White | 2021 | |||
05 22 | Sancerre White | 2021 | |||
04 22 | Sancerre White | 2021 | To consult | ||
11 21 | Antique Pouilly-Fumé | 2020 | |||
09 21 | Sancerre White | 2020 | |||
08 21 | Sancerre White | 2020 | To consult | ||
07 21 | Antique Sancerre Rouge | 2019 | |||
07 21 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2020 | |||
07 21 | Menetou-Salon Rouge | 2018 | |||
07 21 | Antique Pouilly-Fumé | 2019 | |||
07 21 | Sancerre Rosé | 2020 | |||
‘A beautiful salmon pink in the glass, the aromas are rich with citrus and minerals. Developing in the mouth with flavors of river rocks, limestone, and grapefruit peel, undertones of thyme and chervil blossom on the herbal finish.’ |
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07 21 | Sancerre White | 2020 |
93/100 |
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‘With fresh waves of grapefruit juice and lime zest washing over the tongue, this invigorating wine would be great with crudités or raw seafood to cleanse the palate and leave a granitic minerality to ground the finish.’ |
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07 21 | Sancerre White | 2019 |
92/100 |
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‘Shows a limpid hue with glittering emerald streaks and aromas of kiwi fruit flesh, white peach skin, white pepper, ruby grapefruit, sugar snap pea, and wild basil. The palate has an enticing stony quality filled out with mineral and citrus character.’ |
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07 21 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2019 | |||
Grapefruit zest, lime, nettles and fresh herbs on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with tangy acidity and fresh, bright character. Hints of white pepper marry the green-citrus notes. Drink now. |
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07 21 | Menetou-Salon White | 2020 | |||
Sliced apples, fresh apricots, orange zest and citrus blossom on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with crisp acidity and fresh, fruity character. Juicy, clean finish. Drink now. |
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06 21 | Sancerre White | 2020 | |||
Apple blossom, fresh pear, grapefruit and dried herbs on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with bright acidity. Firm, tangy and pithy finish. Drink now. |
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06 21 | Antique Sancerre White | 2019 | |||
Aromas of lemon zest, green apple, fennel and fresh basil. It’s medium-bodied with tangy acidity and a juicy, fresh finish. Some tension and texture. Drink now. |
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06 20 | Sancerre Red | 2017 | |||
This is a really pretty Sancerre rouge with cherries, plums and hints of stones. It’s medium-bodied with soft, silky tannins and a medium finish. Delicious now. |
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06 20 | Sancerre Rosé | 2019 | To consult | ||
A fruity, delicious rosé with lemon-rind and dried-strawberry aromas and flavors. It’s medium-bodied, fruity and bright. Creamy. Drink now. |
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06 20 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2018 | |||
This shows pretty intensity with sliced lime and green-apple character. Vibrant acidity and intensity. It’s pretty textbook in character. Drink now. |
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06 20 | Sancerre White | 2019 | To consult | ||
Typical Sancerre with grass, lemon and light honey character to the lemon undertones. Medium-to full-bodied with steel, slate and dried lemon and fennel seed. Drink now. |
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06 20 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2017 | To consult | ||
06 20 | Sancerre White | 2019 | |||
05 20 | Sancerre Red | 2017 | To consult | ||
Do you ever drink Sancerre rouge? I tasted this yesterday in my tasting room @jamessucklingwinecentral and I really enjoyed it. Finished the bottle with Marie at home with spicy squid and pork dish with rice. |
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05 20 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2018 | |||
05 20 | Sancerre White | 2019 | To consult | ||
03 20 | Antique Sancerre White | 2018 | |||
06 19 | Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | 2017 | To consult | ||
Plenty of sliced green apple and honey character to this white with hints of lemon and white peach. Medium body. Flavorful finish. Drink now. |
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06 19 | Sancerre White | 2018 | To consult | ||
So much green papaya and mango character here. Medium to full body. Lots of fruit and a creamy finish. Delicious. Drink now. |
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01 00 | Sancerre White | To consult | |||
09 85 | Sancerre White | To consult | |||
09 60 | Sancerre White | To consult | |||
Sancerre – Roc de l’Abbaye | |||||
Here is a non-exhaustive list of wine merchants and other partner establishments, where you can find our cuvées…
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