Antoine Sanzay - Saumur-Champigny - La Paterne - Red - 2023

Wine:

Of excellent maturity, the 2023 Saumur-Champigny La Paterne Red reveals Cabernet Franc’s hallmark graphite notes alongside concentrated aromas of blackberry and blueberry. The wine is supported by discreet aging that preserves the fruit while adding depth and polish. On the palate, it unfolds in a supple, velvety texture with refined tannins and impressive length, finishing once again on that graphite signature. A wine with 6 to 8 years of cellaring potential; if opened young, it will benefit from a long decant. The very soul of Saumur-Champigny is captured here. Rated 93/100 by the Selection Committee.

Vinification:

Hand harvested. Fermented for 20 days in temperature-controlled concrete vats. Aged for 9 months in cement vats, lightly filtered on white earth. Bottled in July 2024.

Certified organic wine.

Color:

Bright intense red with carmine, purplish tints.

Nose:

A beautifully matured Cabernet characterised by intense notes of black fruits (blackberry and blueberry).

Palate:

A cuvée with a generous, smooth, and velvety texture, supported by refined tannins and impressive depth, all beautifully enhanced by well-integrated ageing.

Temperature:

To be decanted before serving at between 14 and 16°C

Food and wine pairing:

Shoulder of lamb, roast duck with spices, lamb tagine with prunes and apricots.

Cellar aging:

From now until 2033

A protégé of Nady Foucault, the artisan behind Clos Rougeard, Antoine Sanzay has become a leading name in Saumur, managing his 12-hectare estate with drive and precision. Committed to excellence, he has returned to organic farming, following in his grandfather’s footsteps with an instinctive approach.

Awarded one star by the French wine guide RVF, he crafts wines with impeccable balance, where fruit purity and well-judged ageing come together harmoniously. With four hectares in Les Poyeux, the region’s most renowned cru, his domaine has won over wine lovers and secured its place on the finest tables and among top wine merchants. A rising star of the Loire Valley.