Saumur
Styles
Principal grape varieties
Accessory grape varieties
Terroir
Natural factors
- The 'Anjou blanc' (craie tuffeau) bedrock contrasts with the 'Anjou noir' (ardoise schists) to the west.
- Soils over Turonian limestone: rendzinas and brown calcareous soils, good thermal behaviour, moderate water-holding capacity.
- Fœhn effect from the Mauges: rainfall of 550–600 mm (vs >800 mm on the hills), especially from June through harvest.
- 4 sectors: Turonian cuesta (N), Jurassic plateau of Brossay (W), Cretaceous outlier buttes (SW), Dive/Vienne valley slopes (E). (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
Human factors
- In the 16th century, Dutch brokers brought recognition to chenin B; cabernet franc N ('Breton') later established itself through the work of winegrower Antoine Cristal.
Product characteristics
- Reds: ruby colour, fruity aromas (strawberry, raspberry, cherry) with spicy notes, silky tannins; age-worthy wines that gain in complexity.
- Dry whites: pale yellow with greenish highlights, aromas of white fruits and flowers, fresh palate.
Terroir / wine link
- Craie tuffeau cellars: constant light, humidity, and temperature conditions that preserve the aromatic complexity and supple tannins of the wines.
Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.
Sources
- Product specification (BO Agri, PDF), JORF 19 octobre 2019
- Official INAO text (show_texte)
- INAO product entry
- Official trade body site — InterLoire