Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Brézé Blanc 2021

This is 100% Chenin Blanc, grown on the calcareous soils in and around Brézé, more precisely, from younger vines in Clos de Guichaux and Clos des Carmes, as well as some old vines from the Bas de Pentes terroir of Brézé. Then there is a splash of Les Chapaudaises from Bizay. As any Saumurois will tell you, these terroirs are some of the crown jewels of Saumur (particularly the Clos des Carmes, which sits on the chalky mother rock of the Brézé hill, just below the Château de Brézé). The vine plantings range from 1935-2012, so there’s plenty of old-vine stuffing in this cuvée. With all this in mind, perhaps the quality of this wine shouldn’t come as a surprise.

All Guiberteau’s whites are whole-bunch pressed and fermented with indigenous yeasts. Historically this wine has been vinified entirely in tank, although more recent vintages have been partly aged in tronconique oak to broaden the textural range and mitigate reduction. The 2021 is archetypal Guiberteau; a fleshy, precise, steely Chenin that is all energy. Expect layers of pulpy white and yellow orchard fruits woven with wet rock scents before the sparks fly on a fleshy palate sliced by electric acidity and mouth-watering, citrussy length. The force is strong with this one.

The 2021 is archetypal Guiberteau; a fleshy, precise, steely Chenin that is all energy. Expect layers of pulpy white and yellow orchard fruits woven with wet rock scents before the sparks fly on a fleshy palate sliced by electric acidity and mouth-watering, citrussy length. The force is strong with this one.