Loire / France

Red

Cabernet Franc

Organic / Biodynamic

13 %

Hand-Harvested from 55yr old vines on this famous plot, planted on Late Turonian limestone sand and clay-limestone soils. They form a 2 hectare section facing south-south east. 

 

20-day maceration and fermented in concrete vats

 

Aged in first to third use barrels for about 18 months.

 

Minimal added sulphites and a light filtration at bottling

Antoine Sanzay is the seventh generation of the Sanzay family to farm vines in the village of Varrains. For most of the family’s history, they sold their grapes to the local cooperative, until Antoine came along and decided to take the domaine in a new direction. He joined the domaine full-time in 1999, and slowly began ending the contracts with the co-op, only producing wine from approximately 40% of the vines he owned until 2013, when he was finally able to vinify all of his fruit.

Today the estate comprises 11 ha of prime sites in the limestone haven of Saumur-Champigny, including 4 ha of the famed Les Poyeux lieu-dit. Antoine has long been known as one of the great farmers in the village and has been certified organic since 2014.

Antoine’s reputation has grown to the point where his wines are extraordinarily allocated in France, and he is widely considered one of the finest growers in all of the Loire.

 

Les Poyeux is one of the great Cabernet Franc plots of all, made famous by the revered Clos Rougeard, Antoine has a little slice to himself which offers up his top cuvée.

A fine vintage and a fine example of the terroir and varietal. Cabernet Franc as it should be. Lots of generous dark fruit, herbs and earth. Hints of smoke and spice married with grippy-enough tannins. A stunner!