Winemaker Notes
The canary yellow robe, with delicate golden nuances, is luminous and crystalline. It is the reflection of the purity of the grains of Chenin sorted and ripe, harvested by hand. On the nose you'll find the complexity of the grape variety with aromas of very ripe white and yellow fruits (apricots, peaches, quinces and Mirabelle plums), a hint of oak from its fermentation and aging in barrels and a hint of milk caramel. The attack on the palate is marvelous: round, enveloped… like the very ripe apricot and peach, but a lovely freshness brings a very invigorating structural dynamic for noble pairings with fish and shellfish.
You can also pair this with raw fish, grilled fish, shellfish (langoustines, lobsters, lobsters) and hard cheeses (comté, mimolette, etc.)
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.