Brendan Stater-West Saumur Blanc Brézé 2019

Brendan Stater-West Brézé is the grower's first bottling from the famous Saumur hill, drawn from half a hectare in the lieu-dit L'Ardillon.

The parcel is a single south to southwest-facing block of Chenin Blanc planted in the 1960s, with about 80 centimetres of clay and loam topsoil over Turonian limestone. That deeper soil gives a more austere, horizontal profile than his Chapaudaises. Brézé is not typical Saumur: the vineyards sit higher than the surrounding land, directly on a hill of tuffeau, a porous chalky limestone mixed with clay and sand, and around 70 per cent of the slope has less than a metre of topsoil, so vines of any age must root into bedrock. Even in ripe years the wines stay cool and fresh. Stater-West sorted hard to reduce yields further, aged the wine on fine lees for 12 months in barrel, mostly second and third use, then six months in stainless steel.

Drinking now and worth ten years. Serve at 10-12°C with roast chicken, seared scallops or a washed-rind 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.