Arnaud Lambert 'Midi' Saumur Blanc 2024

Arnaud Lambert has shot up the ranks in terms of superstar Saumur producers in recent years, and his latest releases only further support the talent of the man. 'Midi' is one of his so-called 'entry level' wines but there is no sacrifice of quality here. It's a crystalline Chenin Blanc: water-like purity with intense flavours of cut green apple, orchard fruit, quince and ginger. There's a bite of rock salt and then a hint of cheese cloth to close, with a slow build of texture throughout the wine. A perfect example of new-wave Chenin as mentioned in Jeremy's article. - Ches Cook, FWC.

From his largest single holding of 3.5 ha of south-east facing vines planted in 1985 on sandy clay over limestone. Vinification using no SO2 in stainless steel tank for 75% and 25% in ceramic eggs with indigenous yeast and no malolactic. Bottled in March 2023 this shows excellent freshness and precision in a pure fruit-forward expression of chenin in its most pure state. Very attractive and approachable right away. Un-fined, but filtered at bottling.