Saumur Champigny  

The Loire Valley is best known for its famous whites, Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé, made from the Sauvignon Blanc. But, if you follow the river along a little towards Chinon, Saumur and Angers there are some other lovely wines to be found.  

                                                                   Chinon

The Chenin Blanc produces a variety of styles, from dry to sweet, and we have found one that is every bit as enjoyable as a good Chardonnay but with different flavours, which makes a very enjoyable and interesting change.  The reds are made from Cabernet Franc, which in poor years can be green and tannic, but we are lucky to have had a series of excellent ripe years in the past three years, and the two Reds that we have shipped are bursting with ripe fruit.  All three of these wines are ready for current drinking and are delicious.  The Château de Hureau will keep well for another 10 years.

Domaine Saint Vincent

This April, we found Patrick Vadé’s picturesque vineyard sprawling gently over 28 hectares of clay and limestone soil on the sloping hillside above the Loire leading down to Saumur.  The attractive views of the river dominate the family property, which Patrick took over in 1984.  Here the Cabernet Franc reigns supreme in the red wines, while the Chenin Blanc dominates the whites, and he makes award-winning wines with great care and attention to purity of flavour.

 

Domaine Saint Vincent  2001                                                                                                                                     £4.95 AC Saumur Blanc                                                                                                                                                                      Made from 100% Chenin Blanc, this has a delicate apple blossom nose, which leads into a mouthful of very ripe peachy/appley fruit and acacia honey, with good weight and and concentration.  It finishes with wonderful acidity and great length.

 

Domaine Saint Vincent Rouge Trezellières 2001                                                                                                 £5.50 AC AC Saumur Champigny                                                                                                                                                      Made from 100% Cabernet Franc, this wine has a vivid purple colour with intense aromas of blackcurrant bushes. The palate is packed with juicy summer pudding flavours of raspberries, blackcurrants and apply acidity.  There is just a little soft tannin at the finish. A perfect red for glugging -  Vibrant and satisfying!

 

Domaine de Nerleux Saumur Blanc sec 2002                                                                                                          £4.95 AC Saumur Champigny                                                                                                                                                            This is made from 100% Chenin Blanc.  It has an inviting nose of apricots and apples, which leads into a big mouthful of fruit with hints of cinnamon and cloves, only to finish with super racy acidity and good length.  A bit like a Chablis with more exotic flavours.  Great summer white!

 

Château du Hureau

Some of you will remember the outstanding wines from Château de Hureau, that we last shipped about 10 years ago.  When we revisited the Vatans this April, we were given a very warm welcome and we were once again bowled over by their wines.  The property wins awards regularly each year, and is regarded as one of the very best in the area.

Château du Hureau Grande Cuvée 2000                                                                                                                 £6.95   AC Saumur Champigny                                                                                                                                                              With 17 hectares of limestone tuffeau soil, the Vatans vinify a number of plots separately.  The Grande Cuvée is made from vines up to 70 years old.  The wines are aged for 20 months in the fantastic 13^th Century cellars which are built into the hillside.  The château itself has a fascinating troglodyte extension.

This is deeper than the Vincent wine with a more complex herbaceous raspberry nose and a silky rich concentrated palate of summer fruit flavours.  The wine is more structured with greater complexity and those of you with bottles remaining, who bought the 1989 vintage from the club many years ago, will know the wine ages beautifully.  A beautiful wine!

** For more information on these two vineyards , click on the links below **

http://www.domaine-hureau.fr/uk/estate.htm

http://www.st-vincent.com/