Brendan Stater-West Saumur Blanc 2020

This is the estate's straight dry Chenin Blanc, drawn from parcels on tuffeau around Saumur.

Saumur Blanc is made from Chenin Blanc grown over tuffeau, the soft chalky limestone that underlies the whole district and gives the wines their line. The appellation covers a wide spread of sites, and the character of any bottling depends heavily on which parcels the grower holds and how ripe the fruit is picked, since Chenin can be austere when rushed. Brendan Stater-West, from Oregon, moved to France in 2007 and to Saumur in 2012, apprenticed with Romain Guiberteau and started his own label in 2015 with a hectare of vines handed on by his mentor. He farms organically, using herbal treatments and cover crops. The whites are fermented on ambient yeasts, given light lees contact and tight racking rather than long reduction, raised in used barrels, and bottled with sulphur additions kept low.

Ready on release and better still after two or three years. Serve at 10-12°C with grilled fish, pork rillettes or a fresh goat's cheese.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.