Rating:

Product Description:

Wine:
"Pure chenin blanc from some of the highest vines in the appellation. Aged for 18 months in a combination of tank (80%) and barrel (20%). Lively, mineral-filled, and delicious Savennieres that shows off its schisty and volcanic rock terroir." - Importer

Winemaker
Damien Laureau

"Working out of a small shed with a very small team, Damien Laureau is not exactly what one would call a "typical" Savennieres winemaker. Fruit extracts and other non-synthetic treatments are used on the vines in place of harsh chemicals, and quite frankly, you can tell it just by looking at the vineyards. They feel alive, with wildlife and indigenous plants sharing the space with Damien’s healthy vines of Chenin Blanc. Damien, along with a few other young growers, is starting to experiment with harvesting just when the grapes turn yellow (instead of the traditional Savennieres "green grapes") to take advantage of the richness that the sun brings."

"At the same time, he is careful not to pick too late as he wants to avoid a high level of botrytis in the harvest. As a result, the wines are a beautiful balance of richness, concentration, lively acidity, and length. Yields are quite low (an average of 35 hl/ha is quite common while most harvest at around 50 hl/ha.) Called "Undoubtedly the future star of Savennieres" by France's "La Revue de Vin de France", Damien is quietly carving out his own style with some of the most extraordinary terroir in the world. These are world class white wines." - Importer