Arnaud Lambert Clos de Midi Saumur 2019

Sale $19.99
Buy 3 or more $18.99
Buy six or more $17.89 - US Low Price

93 pts Wine Spectator

Simply, we love Chenin Blanc... but don't sell a lot of it. Well, that's gonna change after you drink this wine! And I've got more lined up behind it... I'm calling this the Summer of Chenin!

I love Chenin Blanc in all its forms – with it’s bright acidity, floral aromas, green apple fruit and medium textural weight, Chenin is possibly the most versatile wine to pair with food. For me, the Chenin Blancs that truly excite me have an extra dimension. I struggle to describe it, but I know when I smell it… I’ve heard beeswax, flint, like those cap gun aromas from when you were a kid, earthiness, chalk, minerality… I dunno… I suppose it is all of those things. The best way I can describe it is, perhaps, umami. It isn’t fruit, although it plays nicely with fruit. It isn’t sweet or sour or salty or bitter… it’s just… umami. And when it is combined with all of Chenin’s glorious fruit and acidity… ahhh… I’m in love.

This is what we call a “wow” wine, bursting from the glass with gorgeous, succulent aromas of peach, Asian pear, ginger, and rosewater. There’s a hint of smokiness and a gorgeous minerality at play, bringing clarity and a glorious expression of terroir in every sip. A vibrant, mouthwatering acidity adds structure and finesse to the whole package, contributing to the dry finish and the food-friendly nature of the wine. What makes this truly special, what sets it apart from the run-of-the-mill Chenin, is the dramatic complexity and the beautiful interplay between the Chenin Blanc fruit and that earthy, smoky, minerality. If you love white wine, this is not a wine to pass up!

One of the greatest charms of Chenin, for me, is how dramatically food friendly these wines can be. Complex, spicy, Asian-fusion? You bet! Earthy, rich roasted game birds dressed in sautéed mushrooms? Absolutely! Soft, creamy, goat cheeses of the style produced in the Loire? If it grows together, it goes together, baby! How ‘bout a whole steamed artichoke served with homemade mayonnaise or hollandaise? My mouth is watering just thinking about the possibilities! The food pairing here is limited only by your culinary imagination!

"This offers an expressive mix of yellow apple, persimmon and Meyer lemon flavors infused with light notes of hazelnut and hints of smoke. The acidity is electric, giving this plenty of verve and carrying all the elements to the long and seductive, lightly floral finish." 


Or reply. The wine is available now in Chapel Hill. Tuesday in Hillsborough.