Domaine des Sables Verts , Saumur Blanc, 12 bottle case

Equivalent Bottle Price £15.99

Juicy white stone fruit and fresh white flowers open on the bouquet. Characterised by layers of fresh citrus notes and ripe apricot, this Chenin Blanc is beautifully textured with a backbone of lively acidity and a touch of minerality on the finish.

Domaine des Sables Verts has one hectare of Chenin Blanc plantings and as such is classified as AOC Saumur. The grapes for the Saumur Blanc come from three separate parcels: ‘Bonneveaux’, ‘Elettes’ and the ‘Rouères’. The Chenin vines are thirty years old and planted on sandy clay and limestone soils. The vines are currently HVE 3 certified and the Domaine are looking to begin the organic certification process in 2022.

Caroline and Hervé take a minimalist intervention approach in the winery. The Chenin Blanc grapes for the Saumur Blanc are harvested by hand early in the morning, transferred by gravity and then gently pressed. The specific plots of ‘Bonneveaux’ and ‘Elettes’, which make up about 50% of the blend, are vinified and aged for four months in used French oak barrels, with regular bâtonnage. The other half comes from the ‘Rouères’ parcel, which is vinified in stainless steel, before the final blend is assembled and bottled in January.