February 3, 2024 - Nice energy with a bit reduction together with the completely dry, bitter, big pile of fruit stones, salty. Not any oil on the palate. Very restricted Chenin, still subtile balanced and interesting all through
December 22, 2023 - My wife is always happy when I pull this out
November 25, 2023 - Excellent entry level Saumur, with loads of character.
September 16, 2023 - Loire Match 2020. Entry level wines of Guiberteau Saumur, Brendan Slater West Saumur, Boudignon Anjou, Belargus Anjou. This was an attempt to find every day alternates to white burgs, which I find quite ridiculous in price point these days.
Guiberteau Saumur 2020: Quite muted nose, on the reductive side with wet rocks scents followed by a rich mouthfeel, with good depth, and a limey and quinine infused bitter finish. I quite liked this medicinal and stony wine, slowly but surely building on the outstanding stony bitter finish, with the only issue being a nit of warmth which disappeared on day 2 . (13.5 deg of alc). Means this will age weel, and very good, on the rich and powerful side.
Slater West Saumur 2020: a reduced nose, with poached pears and wet rocks scents mingling with petroleum notes; a rich and silky mouthfeel, good depth of flavors and as well bitter infused limey finish without heat although ticking at 14 deg alc. There is more power here in the finish, but also more rusticity than the preceding wine. Very well made wine and very recommended.
Belargus, Anjou Noir. 2020 No reduction here, inviting floral and white peach scents, the mouth is very fine on its juicy white fruits and lime flavors, perfect acid sugar balance, fine silky textures, ending in a chiselled, minerally rich finish. No trace of alcohol and perfect balance, punches well above its level. Potential to age. Tie with Boudignon, in a different, less sharp style but beautifully textured and balanced.
Boudignon: Airy scents of white blanched almond milk, marzipan, yellow pear, and citrus, followed by a pure, highly delineated mouthfeel, taut and lean, all lime and citrus, yet rich and perfectly balanced, extremely long and precise, staining the buds for a minute. 12.5 deg so picked early. WOTN (In a sharp style) a tie with Belargus, brilliant.
June 18, 2023 - Wow, that's really nice. Wonderful balance of acidity, fruit and more complex savoury notes. Medium pale to medium gold. Nice, fairly big nose, quite enticing. Fruity and hi acid on entry, it really spreads out on the palate and reveals a lot of secondary, richer notes. Retains its freshness, but shows a broader and more complex whole. Very nicely done.
May 27, 2023 - Have tasted the red of this producer....now I will try the white.
On nose: green pear skin, and a distinct ghost of dry spearmint(?).
On palate: above notes accounted for, with blanched almonds, faint ginger, meyer lemon , Korean melon, and a distinct leesy note on the finish....this is all about subtlety and finesse....on a sleek acidic, full flavoured body....another 5 years in the cellar will not harm this.
Fine playmate for Salmon , roast potatoes and broccolini tonight.
May 6, 2023 - Unripe pear, Korean melon, lemon, white flowers, minerality, and oak. Light-med body, med+ acidity, and a lengthy finish for its level (med+). Took a minute to open but but delicious over several days. Great Chenin Blanc!
January 8, 2023 - White flowers, lemon, lime, lees/yeast, wet stone on the nose. White peach, cantaloupe, vanilla and almond on the palate. Linear. Medium body with medium + acid and a very pleasing long finish.
Great to drink now; but this could also age 2-5 more years.
Reminds me of a good Verdicchio; but more people are probably familiar with Chenin than they are familiar with Verdicchio...
January 8, 2023 - Med body, pale yellow
Nose: lemon, lime, stone, minerality, white flowers
Palate: Med plus acid, linear/laser focused/ white peach, mineral, melon/cantaloupe, yeast/autolytic, slight oak/vanilla but very restrained, looooong finish
Drank with @alphamikefoxtrot
January 3, 2023 - Nice chenin blanc nose and first impression in the mouth and then…almost nothing. It’s not bad, just not very good.