Château de Villeneuve - Les Vieilles Vignes 2011

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Aromas of black cherry, with firm, persistent, and well-integrated tannins—it’s already well-structured.

About the estate:

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 hillside in Souzay, where the Clos de la Bienboire sets the stage with a delicious red wine, 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 serve as benchmarks. With prices that remain attractive, this is one of the region’s most exciting certified organic estates.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

Les Vieilles Vignes is robust and well-structured, with good depth, but lacks a bit of freshness.

About the estate:

Historically, Villeneuve has been a great terroir for dry and sometimes 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, colorful reds with fresh, vibrant body. 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 origins.