Château de Villeneuve - Saumur-Champigny 2021

A robust Chenin that has undergone malolactic fermentation to round out the mouthfeel and balance the briny tension.

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.

Rich, sweet notes of red cherry and raspberry lead to a seductive, juicy palate with good structure. It is well-balanced, with a long finish and ripe, refreshing acidity. A true success for a challenging vintage. Once again, Jean-Pierre Chevallier and his daughter Cécile have demonstrated their ability to produce excellent wines even in difficult vintages, thanks to their attention to detail and their refusal to compromise. The Cabernet Franc used for this estate wine comes from vines that are 40 to 50 years old and planted on clay-limestone soils. The grapes are harvested by hand. After fermentation, 60% of the grapes are aged in 4,000-liter wooden vats, and the rest in concrete and stainless steel tanks.

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.