Brendan Stater-West Saumur Rouge 2020

This is a Cabernet Franc from the La Ripaille vineyard, made by an Oregonian who came to the Loire by way of an English teaching job and a Paris wine shop.

Saumur reds are made from Cabernet Franc grown over tuffeau, the soft chalky limestone that also forms the region's cellars and châteaux, and they sit at the lighter, more aromatic end of the grape's range compared with Bourgueil or Chinon. Brendan Stater-West arrived in France in 2007, moved to Saumur in 2012 to apprentice with Romain Guiberteau while studying for a viticulture and oenology diploma, and made his first wine under his own name in 2015. He farms organically, favours sandy clay over limestone for Cabernet Franc, and works by infusion rather than extraction: skin contact is held to about four days, only the free-run juice is kept, and the wine goes into used barrels. The result is built on freshness and fineness of tannin, with the limestone showing through as grip and line rather than weight.

Approachable on release and worth keeping five to eight years. Serve at 16-18°C, or very lightly chilled, with roast pork, charcuterie or grilled vegetables.

*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.