2020 Domaine des Closiers Saumer-Champigny Blanc 'Allegory'

Region: Loire Valley, France

Grape: Chenin Blanc

Culinary Suggestions: Shellfish, chicken, creamy mushroom dishes

Vineyard Practice: Organic

About

The word “closiers” comes from the name given to the winegrowers who worked in the vineyards and who lived in the troglodyte dwellings at the foot of the hillside.

In 2019, Anatole de la Brosse, a Champagne native and business consultant in Paris purchased this domaine from a retiring vigneron because he believed the terroirs to be great. Grapes had always previously been sold to negociants and the vigneron worked the entire 15 hectare vineyard alone without any employees.

This is a very ambitious new domaine located in Parnay, in the heart of the Saumur Champigny appellation. With Nady Foucault (former owner of renowned Clos Rougeard) as consultant, this well financed estate is definitely one to keep an eye on.

Vineyards sit on well drained clay-limestone hillsides facing the Loire and are now organic with a HEV3 (High Environmental Value) certification, earned for the estate’s recent work in biodiversity. About 95% is planted to Cabernet Franc, with a few plots of Chenin Blanc and a tiny 30 ares (3000 square metres) of Chardonnay. Harvesting is all by hand and the vines average 35 years of age. No chemicals are added during the whole winemaking process except for small quantities of sulphur dioxide.