Domaine de l'Ours Bleu - Saumur Blanc - Brézé - Puzzle 2024
Located in Montsoreau, in the heart of the Saumur vineyard, Domaine de l'Ours Bleu was born from the passion of two friends, Julien Contant and his partner, eager to produce wines capable of rivaling the finest expressions of the Loire Valley. The first plots were acquired starting in 2013, before the estate truly took off under the guidance of winemaker Jérôme Baillargeau. Today, the property extends over about fourteen hectares, spread between Montsoreau, Fontevraud, Brézé, and the surroundings of Chinon, entirely dedicated to Chenin and Cabernet Franc. The vineyard is cultivated organically, with particular attention paid to soil vitality, biodiversity, and grape maturity. The estate's philosophy also relies on particularly long aging periods, intended to gradually reveal the depth of the wines before their marketing. Among its various cuvées, Puzzle holds a privileged place, as it comes from the prestigious terroir of Brézé, considered one of the most remarkable in the Saumur appellation for great Chenin whites. Its name evokes the blending of several complementary plots, whose different characteristics contribute to building a complex and harmonious expression of this historic hillside.
Puzzle 2024 is made exclusively from Chenin, grown on the limestone slopes of Brézé, where the soils rest on the famous Saumur tuffeau. This soft, particularly porous limestone rock constitutes a precious water reserve and helps regulate the vine's water supply. The selected plots bring their particularities of exposure, soil depth, and maturity, allowing the construction of a wine that goes beyond the expression of a single lieu-dit. The 2024 vintage, marked in the Loire Valley by significant rainfall and relatively cool temperatures, required constant vigilance in the vineyard and careful grape selection. These conditions favored profiles where the freshness and natural acidity of Chenin play an essential role. True to its philosophy, Domaine de l'Ours Bleu favors patient vinification, followed by prolonged aging in 400-liter barrels, traditionally conducted for twenty-four months for this cuvée. This work over time allows the wine to develop its texture and depth while preserving the fruit's personality and the characteristic tension of the great limestone terroirs of Brézé.
Puzzle 2024 fits within the register of great dry Chenins from Saumur, combining a delicate aromatic expression with a particularly assertive structure. The bouquet evokes fresh apple, ripe pear, and quince, accompanied by nuances of white flowers, lemon zest, and almond. Upon aeration, fine notes of wet stone, hazelnut, and lightly toasted bread add additional complexity to this elegant ensemble. The palate combines a broad and structured body with precise acidity, giving the wine a sensation of tension and energy. The richness of Chenin develops gradually, with an enveloping texture balanced by citrus flavors and delicate bitters. The finish, long and persistent, retains remarkable freshness, extended by a chalky and saline impression that highlights the character of the Brézé terroir. This great gastronomic white will accompany turbot with beurre blanc, roasted scallops, farm poultry with cream, or veal sweetbreads with morels, but also aged goat cheeses. Its structure and natural acidity confer a beautiful aging potential, during which its aromatic palette may evolve towards nuances of dried fruits, beeswax, and delicate honey.
Grape variety: 100% Chenin
