Domaines des Baumard Wine

Domaine des Baumard produces some of the finest examples of Savennières, and Jean Baumard and now his son, Florent, are universally regarded as the finest winemakers in the appellation. Their wines are among the most unique and rewarding in the world: honeyed, dry whites of unmatched concentration, perfume, and longevity. Savennières is a tiny region located on the northern banks of the Loire River, just across from the town of Rochefort Sur Loire.  The entire appellation consists of fewer than 200 acres (77 hectares) of vines, all planted to Chenin Blanc.  The South/Southeast facing vineyards are planted on unique soils composed of schistous volcanic debris mixed with sandstone and granite, imparting a strong, intensely original minerality to the Chenin Blanc grape.  Maximum permitted yields are the lowest in France for dry whites (25 Hectoliters per Hectare), resulting in wines of stunning concentration and perfume.  The combination of this concentration with the naturally high acidity of the Chenin Blanc grape results in wines capable of lasting and improving for decades.   Baumard's regular Savennières bottling comes from their 6-hectare Clos Sainte Yves vineyard between the Clos du Papillon and Roche aux Moines. The vineyard's soil profile is of shale, sand and sandstone. The grapes are whole bunch pressed and fermented in stainless steel tanks at low temperatures. The wine then spends 9 months on the lees in tank before being bottled.