Clos de l'Écotard Saumur Blanc 2019

Clos de l'Écotard Saumur Blanc comes from the estate's emblematic two-hectare clos, planted between 2009 and 2013 and ploughed only by horse.

Saumur Blanc is the dry Chenin appellation on the left bank of the Loire around the town of Saumur, where clay and limestone over tuffeau give whites of real substance. The Clos de l'Écotard was planted by Michel Chevré on a slope below the village of Courchamps, with occasional outcrops of limestone bedrock breaking the surface. With help from Thierry Germain he planted at 8,000 vines per hectare, well above the regional norm, using a range of Chenin clones and sélections massales from the vineyards of François Chidaine. The farming has been organic from the first day. The first six harvests were vinified by Germain and sold alongside his Roches Neuves wines; 2017 was the first vintage bottled by the newly formed domaine. Fermentation began in stainless steel, then the juice was racked mid-ferment into a mix of foudre and 500-litre demi-muid, and after ten months on lees the wine was bottled unfiltered.

Still youthful and worth another five to ten years. Serve at 10-12°C with roast pork, grilled crayfish 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.