Brendan Stater West, Saumur Blanc, L'Ardillon, Loire, France, 2022

Producer Profile

Originally, from Oregon, Brendan Stater-West didn’t grow up in a winemaking family—just one that loved wine deeply.

Originally, from Oregon, Brendan Stater-West didn’t grow up in a winemaking family—just one that loved wine deeply. A move to France in 2007 to teach English unexpectedly ignited a passion that became a calling. He began working at the esteemed Domaine Guiberteau, where he still collaborates today, and in 2015 was offered the chance to lease a 1-hectare parcel of young Chenin Blanc in Bizay, neighboring the famed Clos de Guichaux. Brendan bottled his first vintage in 2017, crafting wines aged in neutral oak and stainless steel to preserve clarity and terroir expression. Inspired by Guiberteau’s precision and purity, his wines reflect a philosophy rooted in organic farming, minimal intervention, and disciplined winemaking—honest, transparent wines that speak clearly of place.

Viticulture

The grapes for this wine are sourced from a single south/southwest-facing parcel in L'Ardillon, Brézé, planted in the 1960s. The topsoil is approximately 80 cm deep, composed of clay-loam over Turonian limestone, providing ideal conditions for quality Chenin Blanc. The vineyard is farmed sustainably and organically, with minimal intervention to preserve the site's unique expression.

Winemaking

The grapes are sorted directly in the vineyard and whole-cluster pressed. Fermentation occurs naturally in stainless steel to capture the purity of the fruit. The wine is aged for 24 months in used 225-litre barrels, followed by an additional 6 months in stainless steel tanks to refine its profile. Malolactic fermentation is intentionally blocked to preserve the wine's natural acidity and structure.

Tasting Note

A striking expression of Chenin Blanc. It opens with a nose of flint and cracked white pepper, underpinned by a deep seam of crushed chalk. On the palate, it is both poised and energetic, revealing layers of ruby grapefruit, dried citrus peel, and clove, with a subtle creaminess woven through its mineral core. The acidity is sharp and purposeful, lending tension and clarity, while the finish lingers with spice and a saline edge. A wine of finesse and quiet power, with the potential to evolve beautifully over time.

Food Matching

Roasted monkfish with fennel and preserved lemon, or aged Comté cheese.