Saumur Blanc Argile Hureau 2014

It's getting hard to find Chenin wines in the Loire Valley, as people are so into all those Sauvignon wines, or focused on those yummy red Cabernet Franc's. If we say Chenin Blanc nowadays we tend to think about South Africa, and for some reason people usually have a bad opinion about Chenin wines. This Saumur Argile should do justice to the grape. Beautifully balanced with a subtly refined hint of oak. A nose of fresh white fruits with a touch of floral notes, followed by a slightly mineral, rich palate with great length. This wine will bring out the artist in you, help you to forget about your prejudices and will restore this underestimated grape where it belongs.
Since taking over the family’s 18th century château and vineyards back in 1987, Philippe Vatan has used skills learnt in the family’s orchards to get the healthiest fruit possible and he is arguably the instigator of the radical changes in vineyard management in the Loire over the last 10-15 years. His search for genuine ripeness has turned the estate into what is perhaps the finest source of pure, fruit-driven cabernet franc and Chenin in the entire Loire Valley. He’s now been joined by his daughter Agathe, who’s bringing new ideas and even more rigour to the estate. It's lovely to see the two of them working so happily together, each egging the other on. The future looks promising!