95 points, “Dense and powerfully black fruited, this has some wood notes, good ripe tannins and a long finish. This is a lovely wine and is only the straight domaine cuvée. Given the consistent quality of his wines – both white Saumur and Saumur-Champigny – Jean-Pierre Chevallier is remarkably modest as well as being highly principled. His top cuvées are only released when they hit the required quality. In difficult vintages everything goes into the ‘domaine’ wine. The now organically certified Château de Villeneuve is based in Souzay-Champigny by the Loire river in the northern part of the Saumur-Champigny appellation. The Cabernet Franc for this ‘domaine’ wine is between 40-50 years old and planted on clay-limestone. The grapes are handpicked. After fermentation, 60% is matured in 40-hectolitre wooden vats and the rest in concrete and stainless steel.” – Decanter
Decanter Magazine rated this vintage five points higher than its predecessor. So, this is clearly something very special indeed.
Saumur-Champigny is one of the Loire’s great reds. Château de Villeneuve makes three versions: this one, Vieilles Vignes and Grand Clos. Jean-Pierre Chevallier – the estate’s fourth-generation winemaker – will only release Vieilles Vignes and Grand Clos when the quality is exceptional. That means that the classic domaine red, this one, often includes grapes from his best sites.
This organic and vegan-friendly red is made from Cabernet Franc grapes that are picked by hand from roughly 45-year-old vines. Matured in a combo of wooden vats, concrete and stainless steel, this juicy wine tastes like blackberries foraged from leafy hedgerows, raspberry, cherry, pepper and smoky herbs, like the waft of rosemary as you take the roast lamb out of the oven. It’s a wonderful alternative to Pinot Noir and can be sipped lightly chilled with barbeques in the summer or at room temperature with roasts, stews and grills over the winter. This great value bottle will also continue to improve in the cellar for at least five years from the vintage, maybe even more.
If you can avoid the allure of the region’s multiple mushroom museums, head east along the Loire out of Saumur and you’ll discover Château de Villeneuve – one of an embarrassment of stunning properties in the area. This family-run estate has been making wine since 1577. With only 25 hectares of vines, their wines are a rare treat to stumble across.
SKU No.: 4038488
Style No.: 950808
Region: Loire
Grapes: Cabernet Franc
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 13%
Volume: 750ml
Allergens: Sulphites
95 points, “Dense and powerfully black fruited, this has some wood notes, good ripe tannins and a long finish. This is a lovely wine and is only the straight domaine cuvée. Given the consistent quality of his wines – both white Saumur and Saumur-Champigny – Jean-Pierre Chevallier is remarkably modest as well as being highly principled. His top cuvées are only released when they hit the required quality. In difficult vintages everything goes into the ‘domaine’ wine. The now organically certified Château de Villeneuve is based in Souzay-Champigny by the Loire river in the northern part of the Saumur-Champigny appellation. The Cabernet Franc for this ‘domaine’ wine is between 40-50 years old and planted on clay-limestone. The grapes are handpicked. After fermentation, 60% is matured in 40-hectolitre wooden vats and the rest in concrete and stainless steel.” – Decanter
Decanter Magazine rated this vintage five points higher than its predecessor. So, this is clearly something very special indeed.
Saumur-Champigny is one of the Loire’s great reds. Château de Villeneuve makes three versions: this one, Vieilles Vignes and Grand Clos. Jean-Pierre Chevallier – the estate’s fourth-generation winemaker – will only release Vieilles Vignes and Grand Clos when the quality is exceptional. That means that the classic domaine red, this one, often includes grapes from his best sites.
This organic and vegan-friendly red is made from Cabernet Franc grapes that are picked by hand from roughly 45-year-old vines. Matured in a combo of wooden vats, concrete and stainless steel, this juicy wine tastes like blackberries foraged from leafy hedgerows, raspberry, cherry, pepper and smoky herbs, like the waft of rosemary as you take the roast lamb out of the oven. It’s a wonderful alternative to Pinot Noir and can be sipped lightly chilled with barbeques in the summer or at room temperature with roasts, stews and grills over the winter. This great value bottle will also continue to improve in the cellar for at least five years from the vintage, maybe even more.
If you can avoid the allure of the region’s multiple mushroom museums, head east along the Loire out of Saumur and you’ll discover Château de Villeneuve – one of an embarrassment of stunning properties in the area. This family-run estate has been making wine since 1577. With only 25 hectares of vines, their wines are a rare treat to stumble across.
SKU No.: 4038488
Style No.: 950808