Frantz Saumon, Vin de Frantz Sauvignon Blanc: This delicious Sauvignon Blanc is from 30 year old vines and is fermented in stainless steel tanks. Great with simply prepared fish dishes – light golden in colour, aromas of citrus fruit and a hint of pineapple; lovely flowery notes there too. On the palate zesty and pleasantly tart with great acidity and notes of gooseberry and grapefruit. The finish is fresh and intense.
Frantz Saumon, Azay le Rideau Organic, Natural
Frantz Saumon is not from winemaking stock. Indeed, he enjoyed a successful career in forestry management in Canada before returning home in the mid-90's to set up his estate at Huisseau in the Montlouis region of the Loire between Tours and Orleans.
He initially began with 3 hectares of vines but with subsequent acquisitions, his domaine now stands at 6 hectares: 5.5ha of Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc and ½ ha, red grape varieties. The vineyards are situated mainly at the foot of the famed Huisseau Plateau where all the best local names are located but Frantz also has holdings in Chapitre and Lussault-sur-Loire. The vines are planted on soils of sandy clay, limestone and flint and everything is carried out strictly according to organic principles. The grapes are manually harvested, only indigenous yeasts are used and the use of sulphur is very restricted.
The cellar of Frantz Saumon and his partner, Marie Thibault, is an old quarry dating back to the 1200’s where they would extract the Tuffeau limestone to build castles. It is 3000sqm, with endless caves to walk around. Used as farm storage and an old cowshed until 2018, when it was discovered by the couple, and they promptly and excitedly took it over.