Domaine des Sables Verts - Saumur Blanc 2024
The Domaine des Sables Verts, located in Varrains within the Saumur-Champigny area, has been managed by Caroline and Hervé Malinge since they took over the estate in 2019. Their vineyard stretches over a mosaic of plots dominated by limestone, clay-limestone, and sandy soils, characteristic of this Loire region marked by tuffeau stone. The Saumur Blanc 2024 is made exclusively from Chenin, the emblematic grape variety of the Loire, cultivated here on a small surface within a domain mostly planted with Cabernet Franc. This rarity gives the cuvée a special place in the range, with a more limited production than the estate's reds. The vines, about thirty years old according to available data for this cuvée, draw from soils of clay, sand, and limestone an expression that is both ripe, fresh, and mineral. This white thus reflects a modern vision of Saumur: precise, bright, and supported by great drinkability.
In the cellar, the work remains minimally interventionist, with grapes hand-harvested, gentle pressing, and fermentation starting naturally thanks to indigenous yeasts. Part of the juice ferments in stainless steel tanks to preserve the fruit's brightness, while another part ages in used French oak barrels to add texture without marking the wine with wood. The nose opens on juicy white fruits, pear, fresh citrus, ripe apricot, and a floral touch evoking verbena and white flowers. On the palate, the attack is lively and elegant, quickly balanced by a supple and slightly textured body. The minerality adds relief, while the freshness of Chenin lengthens the wine with great dynamism. The finish, lemony and delicately saline, confirms a style that is both gourmand, precise, and very digestible.
Served around 9 to 11°C, this Saumur Blanc 2024 will perfectly accompany grilled fish, seafood, poultry with light cream, goat cheese, or vegetable dishes with citrus. Its natural freshness also allows for beautiful pairings as an aperitif, especially with iodized bites or simple and refined preparations. It can be enjoyed young to appreciate its bright fruit, but its Chenin structure and mineral balance will also allow it to evolve over a few years. Over time, it should gain complexity, developing more honeyed, waxy, and slightly smoky notes. This Saumur Blanc 2024 perfectly illustrates the momentum of Domaine des Sables Verts: a sincere, precise, and accessible wine, supported by a clear reading of the Saumur terroir. It is a fresh, elegant, and modern cuvée, ideal for lovers of straight and expressive Loire Chenins.
Grape variety: 100% Chenin
