Saumur-Champigny

France · AOC (PDO) · Loire Valley

Styles

Natural factors

The vineyard extends across 7 communes in the Maine-et-Loire département, bounded to the north by the Loire and bisected by the valley of the Thouet and its tributary the Dive, at elevations ranging from 40 to 110 metres.
The plots are delineated on Turonian formations, with rendzinas and calcareous brown soils, locally overlaid by sands and clays derived from the Senonian or the Eocene.
The juxtaposition of whitish chalky soils and slate schists has historically drawn a distinction between 'Anjou Blanc' (the Saumurois) and 'Anjou Noir' (the Angers region).
The Mauges massifs, situated to the west of the vineyard, generate a foehn effect that moderates oceanic influence and brings annual rainfall down to between 550 and 600 mm, compared with over 800 mm on the Mauges hills.

Human factors

Red wine production began in the seventeenth century with Cabernet franc, which Cardinal Richelieu had planted in the cantons of Chinon, Bourgueil, and Saumur around 1630. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Saumur-Champigny vineyard has its origins in 1066 with the clearing of the 'Bois Doré' slope by the monks of Saint-Florent, the vine-growing land being progressively reclaimed from the forest.

Product characteristics

The appearance is often deep ruby, with frequent aromas of red fruits or violet.
Fresh, round, and supple, these wines can express their charm both young and after a few years of cellaring.

Terroir / wine link

The combination of a relatively warm and dry climate with calcareous, chalky soils promotes a regular water supply to Cabernet franc, ensuring early ripening and good ventilation of the grape clusters. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.