Langlois Chateau Saumur Blanc Old Vines 2018

Domaine Langlois-Chateau Saumur Blanc Vieilles Vignes, Loire, France, 2018

Grape: Chenin Blanc, oaked.

Yellow colour with golden reflections. The nose is marked by subtle wood ageing, with notes of caramelized pineapple. Honeyed and floral with powerful fruit, well-judged oak and a hint of coconut on the finish. If further aged (for up to fifteen years) the wine will develop a deep honey colour and character with the richness and spicy nutty flavours complementing the deep, candied fruit characters of an aged wine.

The Vieilles Vignes cuvée is produced from two low yielding 1½ hectare plots of Chenin Blanc, both well in excess of 35 years old. The soil is the characteristic Saumur mixture of sand and limestone, with a high calcium content vital for the preservation of the acidity in the fruit and therefore allowing for a longer ripening which concentrates and enhances the flavours. The Langlois-Château Chenin vineyards are around St Florent. The grapes are hand harvested with several “tries” or passes through the vineyards, to ensure all fruit is of optimum ripeness. The fruit is gently pressed and fermented to dryness in 228l French oak Burgundy barrels (30% new barrels and 30% aged by 1 to 4 wines). The oak employed allows the Chenin flavours to shine without being masked by excessive new oak character. Nevertheless barrel-fermentation allows for a gentler, longer and more extended flavour development. The wine rests on its lees for a further 12 months in barrel, which imparts a richness and nutty character to augment the fruit flavours.

The Saumur Blanc Vieilles Vignes has a wonderful ability to accompany diverse fish dishes, especially white fish in creamy sauces. It would be equally at home accompanying one of northern France’s soft ripe cheeses and will also pair well with oysters, scallops and other seafood. Do not hesitate to decant it.