Clotilde Legrand - Saumur Les Lizieres 2019
Price: $24.99
Sale Price: $19.99
3+ Price: $17.99 / btl
6+ Price: $16.49 / btl
| Producer | Clotilde Legrand |
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| Country | France |
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| Region | Loire Valley |
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| Subregion | Saumur |
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| Varietal | Cabernet Franc |
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| Vintage | 2019 |
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| Sku | 17464 |
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| Size | 750ml |
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Loire reds are maybe the most underrated wines in the world. Sure, we all love the whites, but the reds always seemed to get overlooked. But, personally, I think the region is infinitely fascinating- not only historically, but also it’s full of small family producers with some of the best values and most versatile wines in all of France. For those in the know, this is a beautiful wine with a million culinary applications, but it also is an incredible introduction to Loire’s outstanding red wines!
Saumur Champigny is a small sub-appellation of the area, referring to wines made in the communes closest to the village of Saumur. Historians attribute the name of the region to the Francization of Latin words Salmuri and Campus Igni. Salmuri refers to the marshy ground surrounding the village, while Campus Igni translates in to “fields of fire”- a reference to the warm climate. However, the most important feature of the region is its limestone, the tuffeau which was used throughout the Loire to construct homes, castles, and more. The tunnels dug in the quarrying process have served nearly every possible purpose- secret passages between medieval fortification, ammunition storage, homes for cave-dwellers, but most importantly- Wine cellars!
The Legrand family has been making wine in Saumur for centuries- with records at least back to the 17th century. Clotilde Legrand, the current winemaker, has delicately balanced the modernization of the property while still preserving the ancient traditions or processes of their estate. All 16 hectares of their estate is hand-harvested and sustainably farmed, with the average vine age hovering around 45 years old. The Legrands were also pioneers in using cover crops in their vineyard- not only as a way to maintain soil health but also to challenge their vines into producing lower, higher quality yields.
Les Lizieres is an absolutely stunning entry point to the reds of the Loire valley. 100% Cabernet Franc, hand harvested and fermented with native yeasts before aging in stainless steel, this is a bright and fruit forward red that celebrates the berry and spice notes of Cab Franc. There’s an initial burst of brambly raspberry and cherry, followed by a beautiful wave of fenugreek and rosemary, culminating a clean and pure finish with just a hint of woody tannin. Its fresh, energetic, and lovely now, but I could also see this becoming more serious after maturing a year or two on its side.
Clotilde Legrand Description
"100% Cabernet Franc. Medium intensity color with hints of dark purple. Powerful nose of fresh red fruits. A rich and generous wine with delicate, supple tannins and fresh red fruit flavors." - Importer
View from the Cellar: 92 Points
“The 2019 Saumur-Champigny “les Lizières” from Clotilde Legrand is a beautiful wine. The bouquet is deep, precise and complex, jumping from the glass in a mix of cassis, sweet dark berries, a touch of menthol, cigar wrapper, dark soil tones, tree bark and plenty of smokiness. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, complex and shows off outstanding mid-palate depth, with ripe tannins, fine focus and a long, balanced and very promising finish. This is first class Saumur-Champigny in the making!” VFC
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