- BrandAntoine Sanzay
- CountryFrance
- RegionLoire Valley
- TypeRed Wine
- Size750ml
- SKU 210000047624
Antoine Sanzay La Paterne Saumur Champigny 2023
In 1957, a hundred winegrowers from the Valle del Loira came together to establish the Syndicat des producteurs de Saumur-Champigny. This region, nestled between the Loire, the Thouet, and the Fontevraud forest in northwestern France, became an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (A.O.C), which today encompasses 1,600 hectares of vineyards across the villages of Chacé, Montsoreau, Parnay, Saumur, Souzay-Champigny, Turquant, Varrains, Dampierre-sur-Loire, and Saint-Cyr-en-Bourg.
From this latter location, Antoine Sanzay crafts wines, positioning himself as one of the most promising winemakers in the region. His journey began in 1999 when he took charge of the family's 11 hectares. Until then, the entire production was sold to the local cooperative; however, everything changed in 2013 when Antoine Sanzay decided to venture into independent winemaking. For his wines, this vigneron relies on cabernet franc, an indigenous grape variety that thrives on the area's soft, white soils, dominated by tuffeau (porous limestone), which in this locale becomes more yellow and sandy, lending itself to lighter wines. In this respect, the reds of the A.O.C. Saumur-Champigny deserve special mention, as they manage to unveil the most fragrant and refreshing expression of cabernet franc.
Critical Acclaim
90 Vinous
The 2023 La Paterne is supple, perfumed and delicious for early drinking. There's an unobtrusive touch of reduction that adds zest to the red fruit, orange peel and floral notes. After ten months of aging in concrete, the aromatics are allowed to shine. There's richness on the palate and a hint of sweetness on the finish.