Saumur Gem Arnaud Lambert

Saumur Gem Arnaud Lambert

Kathleen Smith

π’ͺ𝒽, π“ˆπ“Šπ’Έπ’½ π’Άπ’·π“Šπ“ƒπ’Ήπ’Άπ“ƒπ’Έπ‘’ 𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 π’Ύπ“ˆ π“‹π’Ύπ‘’π“Œπ‘’π’Ή, 

𝒲𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝒢𝓁𝓁 π’½π’Άπ“ˆ 𝓇𝑒𝒢𝒸𝒽𝑒𝒹 π“‚π’Άπ“‰π“Šπ“‡π’Ύπ“‰π“Ž, 

π’œ 𝓇𝒾𝒸𝒽 𝒢𝓃𝒹 π“ˆπ“…π‘’π“ƒπ’Ήπ’Ύπ’Ή π“ˆπ’Ύπ‘”π’½π“‰ π’Άπ’Έπ’Έπ“‡π“Šπ‘’π’Ή 

π΅π“Ž π“ƒπ’Άπ“‰π“Šπ“‡π‘’, 𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝒾𝓃 π’Ύπ“‰π“ˆ π“…π“Šπ“‡π’Ύπ“‰π“Ž. 

π’·π“Ž: πΈπ“‡π“ƒπ‘’π“ˆπ“‰π’Ύπ“ƒπ‘’ π’©π‘œπ“‡π“‰π’½π‘œπ“‹π‘’π“‡

ΚŸα΄‡α΄› α΄›Κœα΄‡ ᴛᴇʀʀᴏΙͺΚ€ ᴛᴏ α΄…α΄‡κœ°Ιͺɴᴇ α΄›Κœα΄‡ α΄‘Ιͺɴᴇ. That is Arnaud Lambert’s philosophy. Arnaud Lambert’s wines have style and grace.  His winemaking techniques are striped down to the basics, elemental, wines that have a presence, character and verve.  He doesn’t want anything to affect the character of what nature created.

Arnaud Lambert β€˜Clos Mazurique’ BrΓ©zΓ©, 2019

Saumur AOC, Loire, France

100% Cabernet Franc

Domaine Arnaud Lambert was a merger of 2 domaines in 2017 - Domaine de Saint-Just (started by his father in the 1990s) and historical Saumur estate whose enviable collection of vineyards (and historically used to exchange their wines for the renowned ChΓ’teau d’Yquem for their unctuous desert wines. They make wines from the regions of Saint Cyr en Bourg, BrΓ©zΓ© and Montsoreau. The wines are electric with the limestone soils.  He is a staunch NO SULFITES  in the vilification and ageing process. This 3.7 hectare clos of 40 year old vines (which is a walled single vinyeard”) is biodynamic & organic, minimal intervention winemaking. This wine is 100% destemmed and partial whole bunch fermentation with indigenous yeast with a gentle maceration in concrete and stainless steel. A daily single pump during its short fermentation encourages its acidity to shine even more.  The end result is a very expressive, perfumed and juicy fruit, easy early drinking style of Cabernet Franc. Its fresh, light and lovely, soft light tannins, super attractive and so quaffable.

Note: BrΓ©zΓ© is a gorgeous little village nestled in Saumur. It has a unique micro-climate with martime influence, a cool climate, signature tuffeau (limestone) of the region with a mix of clay and sand topsoils.  The region produces intensely mineral Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc. 

Pours into the glass a jeweled ruby color with a purple rim.

Swirl and the perfumed aromas of fresh red and dark cherry, tart raspberry,  mulberry, red plum meet the signature bell pepper, floral and graphite and wet earthy undertones.

Sip and the crisp acidity is first to greet you. A medium bodied wine with flavors of  tart red berries (raspberry & strawberry cranberry), bell pepper, graphite pencil lead, wet stone, earthy dirt, violets and roses and finishes lingeringly on red chili flakesviolet barnyard(very slight) Medium+ acid medium bodied, so smooth and well balanced finishes on mint and licorice

It has such a charm and refinement to it for all of you Cabernet Franc lovers out there. This is a must seek out and great QPR ($23). Refined, focus with an electric current to them, they are alive and have substance.

Pairs with fresh tomato & fried sage with grilled polenta, roasted mushrooms with farro - Savory dish or pepper crusted sirloin steak with roasted peppers

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