A walk through the vineyards of Saumur Champigny

We used the afternoon travelling by means of the one of a kind terroir of the Saumur-Champigny AOP in the heart of the Loire Valley. The Champigny appellation is for 9 villages and we walked as a result of just one, the very picturesque region of Souzay-Champigny.  The entire region has 100 winemakers farming 1,600 Ha of vines and all 9 villages deliver a whole of 10 million bottles yearly.  The AOC was made in 1957 and 99% of manufacturing is Cabernet Franc.

The important to the excellent of the wines from this area is the Tuffeau/Limestone soil that the grapes are developed on. Souzay-Champigny has a special meso-local climate the title Champigny will come from the Latin Campus Ignis meaning “fields of fire”, a reference to the climatic enclave located right here. Rainfall is small and the typical vineyard temperatures are larger than in the other villages. This signifies that Cabernet Franc thrives listed here as we walked by means of the vineyards on an afternoon tour, we stopped at different details to style the wines. The to start with detail of observe is the soil, mostly chalk it absorbs rain and Cabernet Franc wants moisture to thrive.  The soil also retains the warmth from the solar also very important to ripening the grapes. We tasted 16 wines and the excellent extremely a lot in proof, with a couple stars in the blend, unfortunately not readily available on  the Irish current market.  I have very long been a enthusiast of Cabernet Franc but my go-to was Chinon and St Nicholas de Bourgueil, I can now most undoubtedly increase Saumur Champigny to my checklist.

I was delighted to see that two of the wines we tasted are at present obtainable on the Irish industry. I tasted the 2020 Châteaux de Villeneuve €21.95 his wines are imported by Le Caveau https://lecaveau.ie/ but I suspect they may possibly have an older vintage.  The wine I tasted is produced from aged vines, grown in a grand clos (walled vineyard).  Jean-Pierre Chevallier owns the 28-ha home located in Souzay.  We fulfilled him and his daughter Cecile to flavor their most current classic which was 2020.  This is 100% Cabernet Franc manufactured from organically developed grapes.  It was a person of the extra structured wines we tasted that afternoon.  Floral notes on the nose, but when tasted a large amount of sophisticated darkberried fruit, with a very good lenght and finish. Composition but with a hint of softness, this wine will past a although, a  real uncover!.

The other wine presently out there on the Irish marketplace is the 2020 Domaine Langlois AOP Saumur Champigny.  2020 is their 1st natural and organic vintage. 100% Cabernet Franc it was a charming easy ingesting wine, fresh and fruity. O’Brien’s Wines currently have the 2018 classic on present at €14.76.  The wine had superb floral aromas, peony roses came to mind, and  tons of fruit. During the summer time months, when lighter purple wine designs are pretty a lot in need, this a single is unquestionably really worth a look. https://www.obrienswine.ie/products and solutions/langlois-saumur-champigny

We commenced our stroll in the cave dwellings, the now famous troglodyte properties which have been, for several centuries, household to a huge underground neighborhood.  Now deserted you can continue to see the remains of these underground villages, hewn out of the rock. The Tuffeau was quarried and the chalk blocks have been utilized to make most of the charming houses, châteaux and churches in the region.

Right now there are bicycle and strolling tours of the quite popular route du vin.  If you are considering a holiday with a distinction, this classified UNESCO entire world heritage internet site is value a pay a visit to.  Troglodytic caves, gorgeous gardens and 80 estates welcoming people all yr spherical.

For far more information:  www.saumur-champigny.com

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