Pascal Jolivet’s 2025 releases come from a good but challenging vintage in the Loire. After a wet winter, warm, dry conditions arrived early, with the driest May and June in 15 years. An August heatwave accelerated ripening, and harvest took place in late August and early September. The grapes were in excellent condition, producing ripe, rich wines that sometimes show less definition and regional typicity.
Despite that, the wines are delicious, and Jolivet has handled the vintage well.
Pascal Jolivet Edition Sauvignon Blanc 2025, Coteaux de Giennois
12.5% alcohol | 93/100
Made from limestone and flint soils in Saint-Père, where Jolivet farms 20 hectares. Delicate yet full, with apple, pear, citrus and a hint of elderflower. The palate is concentrated and rounded, with bold fruit, a touch of saltiness and surprising weight for its alcohol level. It finishes fresh, with a slight green note, and has an appealingly textured feel.
Pascal Jolivet Blanc Fumé 2025, Loire
13.5% alcohol | 93/100
Bright and linear, with fennel and herbs alongside textured pear, citrus and a hint of apple. Concentrated and refined, it offers rounded fruit, warmth and depth. Crushed-rock minerality comes through beneath the rich fruit.
Pascal Jolivet Sancerre 2025
13.5% alcohol | 94/100
Expressive aromas of ripe pear, peach and elderflower lead into a nuanced palate of crystalline citrus, melon and pear, with subtle green notes. A hint of grapefruit lifts the finish. A fine, beautifully composed example of the riper style of Sancerre.
Pascal Jolivet Sauvage Sancerre 2025
14% alcohol | 95/100
A selection from two hectares of limestone vineyards in Champtin and Bué-en-Sancerre. Organically farmed, the wine is wild-fermented and aged on lees for 12 months in stainless steel. Rich and deeply textured, it layers saline pear and melon with crystalline citrus. The limestone’s acidity is partly concealed by the vintage’s generous fruit, but the mineral extract should support effortless ageing. Its plush style recalls the wines of Cotat.
Pascal Jolivet Les Caillottes Sancerre 2025
13% alcohol | 94/100
Organically farmed and fresh, detailed and delicious. Ripe pear and citrus lead into a textured mid-palate, with a broad finish, fine spice and a chalky note. Stylish and multidimensional, it reflects the richness of the year.
Pascal Jolivet Clos du Roy Sancerre 2025
15% alcohol | 94/100
Jolivet farms 0.79 hectares within this 18-hectare clos in Crézancy-en-Sancerre. Made in stainless steel, the wine is rich and textured, with a rounded palate and salty minerality supporting ripe pear and peach. The alcohol adds warmth, while the concentration suggests good ageing potential. It is layered and saline, though less typical of Sancerre.