Château de Villeneuve - Saumur Les Cormiers 2022

Still active on his estate, Jean-Pierre Chevalier has passed on his passion for wine to his two daughters, Caroline and Cécile. They make the most of this limestone slope in Souzay, where the Clos de la Bienboire sets the tone as a delicious red and is followed by the velvety and refined Vieille Vigne cuvée. The whites are no exception; the wines age beautifully in the bottle, and the older vintages are true benchmarks. With prices that remain attractive, this is one of the most exciting certified organic estates in the region.

The 2022 Saumur Les Cormiers, made from Chenin Blanc, offers a delicate and lively bouquet of pear, white flowers, menthol, spices, and spring blossoms, followed by a medium-bodied to full-bodied palate that is crisp, pure, and easy-drinking—lively and charming—culminating in a crisp, luscious, and ethereal finish. This is an excellent expression of one of Saumur’s finest terroirs for dry white wines.

Les Cormiers promises to be ripe and concentrated in 2022. It perfectly embodies a dry, crisp, ripe Chenin with good structure, shaped by a prominent, very mouth-watering finish. Ready to drink now and for the next ten years, or even longer. One of the finest vintages of this cuvée I’ve tasted.

Villeneuve has historically been a great terroir for dry and, at times, sweet Chenin Blanc (Coteaux de Saumur appellation), with remarkable aging potential. Jean-Pierre Chevallier manages the family vineyard—partly located on the spectacular Côte de Souzay—with high standards and passion. Faithfully capturing the essence of this limestone slope, this oenologist—trained in the Bordeaux school—crafts consistent, deeply colored reds with fresh, vibrant structure. He has gradually refined his aging techniques and consistently established himself as one of the greatest winemakers in the Saumur region. We are thoroughly impressed by his perfectly balanced wines, which offer sensual interpretations of Cabernet Franc without compromising their terroir.