2020 Arnaud Lambert, Saumur Blanc "Les Perrieres"

Arnaud Lambert is at the forefront of a group of producers in Saumur who are doing their best to express the potential of each terroirs. The region is dominated by the production of sparkling wines and it is very refreshing to see producers such as Arnaud delivering high quality Chenin that reveal where it comes from. To do so, Arnaud use organic method in the vineyard and is working to convert the full Domaine into biodynamic. He is also blessed to own some high quality spots in Saint Cyr-en-Bourg which is the village just north of Brézé. Why do we like it? Les Perrieres is a parcel of 65 years old vines on silt and limestone. It is vinified with indigenous yeast and matured in half older barriques, half in foudres. It is a very precise crystal sharp wine which demonstrates lot of citrus and orchard fruits such as lemon zest, tangerine and yellow pear plus a touch of ripe cantaloupe melon and chamomflille. The mineral component is obvious and speaks about the parcel, 'Les Perrieres" comes from the old French "petrarium", meaning stone quarry. Nonetheless, the wine has weight with a mouth-watering sensation and will certainly age beautifully well as the texture soften with age...only if you can resist keeping it for that long...   Grape            Chenin Blanc Country        France                                  Region          Loire Valley                                      Vintage         2020