Guiberteau Saumur Blanc 'Les Moulins' 2020
100% Chenin Blanc. Les Moulins was created in 2014 as a destination for the domaine’s vines undergoing organic conversion. The current blend is drawn from roughly two hectares, spread across the communes of Montreuil-Bellay, Brézé, and Bizay (home to the Clos de Guichaux), on the classic clay and limestone of the area. Vine age varies from over 85 years in Brézé to younger vine fruit in Bizay, with an average age of 30 years.
The fruit was whole-cluster pressed and wild-fermented on heavy lees in stainless steel before finishing with 12 months in (old) 225-litre oak. The longer aging today reflects Guiberteau’s growing understanding of these vineyards. In previous years this release looked radically different from the villages bottling—more linear, racy and mineral—more Brézé. This year, the two wines share more resemblance, though the Moulins bottling reveals more layers, extract and phenolic structure. As always, you can expect a greater measure of chiselled intensity on the palate: it’s a saline, mouth-watering and lucid Chenin from Saumur’s top drawer. Importer Notes.