Winemaker Notes
Located at the end of the Plateau de Brossay, which is unique to Saumur in that it does not have limestone. The site is slightly convex with fresh and windy exposure. Biodiversity is of paramount importance and no chemicals are used in the vineyard. Soils are flint with gravel and clay. Hand harvested. Native yeast fermentation in egg-shaped concrete tanks. No racking before aging. Winemaking is approached naturally, so depending on the vintage, there is spontaneous malolactic fermentation. Made exclusively from botrytised Chenin Blanc grapes, which are then vinified as a dry white wine.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Panthalassa evokes aromas of ripe orchard fruits, pineapple, spices and menthol, followed by a medium to full-bodied, dense and concentrated mid-palate with a gastronomic bitterness that segues into a tense, long and phenolic finish. Despite its aromatic resemblance to sweet wines, this dry wine excels in pairing with gastronomic delights, thanks to its delicate bitterness. It matured in egg-shaped concrete containers on fine lees.
Unquestionably one of the most diverse grape varieties, Chenin Blanc can do it all. It shines in every style from bone dry to unctuously sweet, oaked or unoaked, still or sparkling and even as the base for fortified wines and spirits. Perhaps Chenin Blanc’s greatest asset is its ever-present acidity, maintained even under warm growing conditions. Somm Secret—Landing in South Africa in the mid 1800s, today the country has double the acreage of Chenin Blanc planted compared to France. There is also a new wave of dedicated producers committed to restoring old Chenin vines.
Marked by great châteaux built with the same tuffeau limestone that is also responsible for the excavation of so many of the famed Loire caves, Saumur is famous for its Chenin blanc based sparkling wines. Inside the Saumur region, Saumur-Champigny creates some of the Loire’s greatest Cabernet Francs.