Filliatreau 2001 Saumur Champigny Vieilles Vignes

(Arives Jan 31) 100% Cabernet Franc. The vieilles vignes in this case are estate vines ranging from 50 to 100 years old and scattered across a range of parcels on clay-limestone soils.  The bunches are harvested by hand and fully destemmed for a long, slow fermentation with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks and a 10-day maceration. The wine is aged in steel for a year. Going back through our tastings with the young Frederic Filliatreau, we particularly ejoyed the 1995, 1997 (along with the fabulous Clos Candi!) and 2003 vintages, but we have no record of the 2001. A lighter vintage certainly, so we were very curious as to how the 2001 would show after 21= years. As is frequently the case in the Loire, vintages that are lower in alcohol and higher in acidity often age well and the 2001 VV is a good example - it's a lovely. light-bodied mature Cabernet Franc that is a delight to drink! The wine shows a lovely slightly faded rd/garnet color with aromas of rose, raspberry, sous-bois, stone, plum and tea leaves - very pretty and typical of old Cab Franc. The palate is light and pretty with surprisingly ripe berry fruits that segue into leafy, earthy, vegetal flavors, finishing with plum skin, earth and citrus - a lovely wine of contemplation. Decant off the sediment, then it's ready to enjoy, served slightly cool. DL

Filliatreau 2010 Saumur Champigny Vieilles Vignes

(Arrives Jan 31) 100% Cabernet Franc. The vieilles vignes in this case are estate vines ranging from 50 to 100 years old and scattered across a range of parcels, mostly in Chaintres, on clay-limestone soils. The harvest is 100% manual and is carefully sorted in the cellar. The grapes are destemmed and transported to stainless steel tanks. About 20 to 30 days of maceration between 24 ° c and 28 ° c maximum to preserve the fruit while allowing the structure to be expressed. We loved this wine when tasted in 2012 and it has opened up nicely, becoming  very complex and expressive, not quite mature but drinking very beautifully now. The wine shows a deep garnet color with aromas of ripe raspberry, cherry and red currant with blood orange, violet, ash and the beginning of earthy sous-bois that blends perfectly with the red fruits. The palate shows nice density of red and black fruits with a chalky texture, earth and mineral flavors combining with black fruits, a bit of tannin and firm acidity in the finish. Beautiful now and over the next 3 to 5 years, but I'm not sure it will age as gracefully as the lighter 2001.( It would be fun to find out) Great juice!  David Lillie

Filliatreau 2018 Saumur Champigny Vieilles Vignes

(Arrives 5/9) 100% Cabernet Franc. The vieilles vignes in this case are estate vines ranging from 50 to 100 years old and scattered across a range of parcels on clay-limestone soils. The farming is certified-organic and is in conversion to biodynamics (on track for certification in the 2021 vintage). This new release of the Filliatreau "Vieilles Vignes" is a beautiful Cab Franc that can be enjoyed immensely now or in 15 to 20years. Bright black/red color with lovely aromas of ripe cassis, black raspberry, dusty stone, a bit of leather. The palate is lush and deep with a chalky texture and firm acidity beneath the black raspberry, cassis and black cherry fruit that is sapid, meaty and ripe. Long finish with dark chocolate, minerals, licorice, walnut and palate coating black fruits. Really lovely wine. Decant if drinking now, best after 3 to 4 years of cellaring then enjoy until 2040+.  David Lillie

Filliatreau 2020 Saumur-Champigny La Grande Vignolle

100% Cabernet Franc. "La Grande Vignolle" is a single 6-hectare vineyard on a limestone plateau above a cliff along the Loire a few miles from the winery at the northern limit of the Saumur-Champigny appellation. The vines average 40 years old and the farming is certified-organic and in conversion to biodynamics. The 2020 shows a deep ruby/purple in the glass with a classic nose of dark fruit, vegetal spice and some earth. The palate is fresh and vibrant, full of blueberries, blackberries and spice with a dense mineral core and firm tannins that integrate further with some air. On day two it was even better, showing great aging potential but still delicious now especially with food - think roasted meats, grilled vegetables or hard cheeses. A classic expression of Saumur-Champigny that ticks all the right boxes at an enticing price! - Jeff DiLorenzo

Filliatreau 2020 Saumur Chateau Fouquet

100% Cabernet Franc. In the 1990s, estate founder Paul Filliatreau bought Cab Franc vines in the lieu-dit Château Fouquet, which lies in the village of Brézé, 10 kilometers east of the town Saumur (just outside the lines of the Saumur-Champigny appellation). Parts of the vineyard had been abandoned; he replanted with massale cuttings from Chinon vigneron Charles Joguet's Clos du Chêne Vert vineyard. By 1998, the vineyard had been converted to certified-organic farming; as of the 2018 vintage, Château Fouquet is Demeter-certified as biodynamic. From slightly different teroir, the Saumur always shows brighter than the Saumur Champigny. The nose is redolent with blackberries, cassis and that unmistakable wet clay minerality. A hint of herbaceousnes gives way to lush fruit, supple tannins and lively acidity. The wine definitely benefits from aeration as we revisited it the next day and all it's youthful exuberance had been smoothed out.The wine makes a perfect foil for duck dishes such as frisee with  confit gesiers and potatoes in a tangy vinaigrette.  Bon Appetit! Giselle  Hamburg