2016 Arnaud Lambert Saumur Breze Clos David

Arnaud Lambert is considered to be one of the most talented winemakers in Loire, regularly producing what are amongst the best wines in and around Saumur. Arnaud studied in Dijon and has bought that Burgundian approach to his winemaking and to expressing each vineyard site. Bio-dynamic viticulture is practiced in the vineyards, and the goal is to highlight each individual terroir and realise each vineyard sites potential.

Clos David is 100% Chenin Blanc from a 1.3 ha north-east facing site planted in 1965 on medium sandy silt over limestone. Grapes are whole-bunch pressed, the free-run juice is fermented with natural yeast in 50% in foudres and 50% in barrel (2-3 year-old), and matured on fine lees for 12 months. Blended and further matured in tank for six months before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Other Reviews....
From a limestone monopole covered by loamy sand and born in a late vintage with a slow-ripening maturity, the barrel-fermented, straw-yellow colored 2016 Saumur Brézé Clos David offers a deep, chalky, fresh and complex nose of ripe pears and apples as well as tropical fruits intermixed with spicy-elegant mineral, even flinty aromas of crushed stones. Intense, round and juicy on the silky-textured palate, this is a dry, medium to full-bodied, very elegant and firmly structured Chenin with fine yet lively acidity, delicate tannins and a food-friendly bitterness on the dense, long and promising, salty finish. Very persistent aftertaste. Aged for 12 months in two- and three-year-old barriques, this is a deep, dark and powerful yet very juicy Chenin from Brézé that needs time to develop its promising talents. Tasted in February 2019. Drink 2022 - 2033.
92+ points
Stephan Reinhardt - Wine Advocate (Oct 2021)