(October 2023) … Of the Cabernet Franc regions visited, and wines tasted, Saumur, Saumur Champigny and Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame were by far the most impressive. The ripeness of the fruit led to wines of great colour and depth of flavour, very few had the stalky / vegetal nature that one has associated with Cabernet Franc in the past from the Loire – or better yet, under-ripe Cabernet Franc, even to this day, which exist in with other regions within the Loire, even today.
I look forward to Saumur and all its areas to continue its version of nice, approachable, ripe, fruity Franc, and show the Loire can truly deliver – there’s a new ambassador for quality Franc in the region.
Saumur has 2 regions, 3 departments and 7 AOCs; the first of which was established in 1936. The main grapes in this 4000-hectare part of the Loire are Chenin Blanc (white) and Cabernet Franc (red) – they create upward of 28 million bottles of wine and boast 350 producers.
The AOCs:
Saumur Rouge – est. 1936 … 570 ha / Cabernet Franc
Saumur Blanc – 350 ha / Chenin Blanc
Saumur Rosé – 80 ha / Cabernet Franc
Saumur Brut – 1300 ha / 10 million bottles produced / Chenin for white, Franc for Rosé
Saumur Champigny – 1600 ha / 11 million bottles produced / Cabernet Franc
Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame – est. 2008 … 75 ha / 400,000 bottles produced / Cabernet Franc
Coteaux du Saumur – 15 ha all Chenin
Saumur’s breakdown of wine production:
55% Red, 32% bubbles, 10% white, 2% rosé and 1% sweet
Alliance Loire
2018 Cuvée Domaines Des Ormes (Saumur Rouge) – Better +
2019 Chateau Du Bellay Vieilles Vignes – Better +
Arnaud Lambert
2019 Moleton – Ok
2022 Terres Rouges – Better
Chateau de Villeneuve
2021 Chateau De Villeneuve – Ok
2019 Le Grand Clos – Better
Domaine de L’Enchantoir
2021 Ilôt Des Biches (Saumur Rouge) – Good
2019 Pied À L’étrier (Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame) – Ok
2018 Clos Du Petit Chavannes (Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame) – Better
Domaine de La Paleine
2022 La Paleine (Saumur Rouge) – Better 
2019 Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame (Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame) – Better (VIDEO)
2022 Maison Cassée (Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame) – Better +
Domaine de La Renière
2022 La Renière (Saumur Rouge) – Better
2021 Moulin Repenti (Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame) – Better +
Domaine de Nerleux
2022 Cuvee Des Nerleux – Good +
2020 Les Loups Noirs – Better + (VIDEO)
Domaine des Closiers
2019 Trezellieres – Better
2022 Les Closiers – Better +
Domaine des Hautes Vignes
2020 Cuvée Vieilles Vignes (Saumur Rouge) – Good
2018 Cuvée Vieilles Vignes (Saumur Rouge) – Good +
2018 Saumur-Champigny – Better
Domaine des Sanzay
2022 Domaine – Good +
2022 Les Poyeux – Better
2020 Les Dares – Good +
Domaine du Ruault
2020 La Source – Better +
2017 Sensei – Good +
2017 Le Clos De La Cote – Better
Domaine du Vieux Pressoir
2020 Cuvée Les Silices (Saumur Rouge) – Good + 
2021 Cuvée Caradoc (Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame) – Better
2020 Cuvée Origine (Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame) – Good
Domaine La Bonnelière
2022 Cuvée Gourmandine (Saumur Rouge) – Good +
2022 Tradition – Better
2020 Les Poyeux – Better +
Domaine Mélaric
2020 Cuvée Billes De Roche (Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame) – Good +
2019 Cuvée Clos De La Cerisaie (Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame) – Better
Domaine Saint Landor
2021 Cuvée Domaine (Saumur Rouge) – Ok
2020 Cuvée Domaine (Saumur Rouge) – Good +
2020 Cuvée L’obligé (Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame) – Better + (VIDEO)
Earl Domaine Ratron – Clos Des Cordeliers
2020 Clos Des Cordeliers Tradition – Good +
2018 Clos Des Cordeliers Prestige – Better
La Seigneurie
2020 Vieilles Vignes À Pierrot – Good +
Manoir de La Tête Rouge
2021 Cuvée Bagatelle (Saumur Rouge) – Good +
2019 Cuvée Enchentoir (Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame) – Better +
2019 Cuvée Tête De Lard (Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame) – Better
