Antoine Sanzay Saumur Champigny "Les Poyeux" 2020
We have 12 in stock (Inventory is live and accurate)
The Land
This Saumur Champigny is sourced from Antoine Sanzay's 4-hectare parcel within the famed Les Poyeux lieu-dit, considered the top site in the region for Cabernet Franc, and arguably one of the best in the world. This gently sloping vineyard has a south and southwest exposure and is sheltered from northern winds by woods on top of the hill. The vines, which are over 55 years old, grow in a terroir of clay and limestone. The estate has been certified organic since 2014, and seeks to show the best of the region in the wines they produce.
The Wine
This 2020 bottling is 100% Cabernet Franc that is fermented with indigenous yeast in concrete for 30 days and then aged in five-year-old barrels for 18 months. This wine displays an incredible finesse and balance. Expect a complex array of red and dark fruit, with subtle herbal notes and a distinct minerality that is a signature of the terroir. The palate is elegant and refined, with a fresh acidity and well-integrated tannins. The focus of this wine is clearly on displaying a true sense of place.
The People
Antoine Sanzay is a seventh-generation vigneron in the village of Varrains, though he is the first to bottle all of his estate's wines. He joined the family domaine full-time in 1999 and has been steadily transitioning away from selling his fruit to a local cooperative. He is widely known as one of the best farmers in the area and has been certified organic since 2014. With a commitment to traditional cellar practices, with the use of indigenous yeasts for the fermentations and the use of cement and large foudre/barrels for elevage, he creates wines that have an unparalleled expression of the Cabernet Franc grape and the Saumur-Champigny region.
We ship wine to most states with a $100 minimum order for shipping. We don't ship spirits nor beer.
Weather shipping advisory: Orders placed during times of extreme heat or extreme cold will be held for no charge until more favorable weather returns.
The Loire Valley, often referred to as the "Garden of France," is a revered wine region that stretches along the Loire River, producing an array of distinct wines, including the crisp, sea-breeze influenced Muscadet near the Atlantic coast, the versatile and expressive Chenin Blanc in regions like Vouvray and Anjou, the elegantly fragrant Cabernet Franc from Chinon and Bourgueil, and the minerally complex Sauvignon Blanc-based Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé from its eastern vineyards. This is a reflection of the valley's varied terroir and climate, which together foster the creation of wines that are celebrated for their finesse, diversity, and food-friendliness.
Loire Valley
GPT Cabernet Franc is a black-skinned grape variety primarily known for its contribution to the complex, savory bouquets of Bordeaux blends, and it thrives as a varietal wine in the Loire Valley, France. It often presents a lighter body with floral and herbaceous notes, complemented by a distinctively crisp acidity and a texture that speaks to its Loire Valley terroir, where the moderate climate and diverse soils amplify its elegance and aromatic complexity.
