Brendan Stater West, Saumur Rouge, La Ripaille, Anjou-Saumur, Loire, France, 2023

Producer Profile

Originally, from Oregon in the USA, Brendan was born into a family whose knowledge of wine extended simply to “drinking it every day” and he never imagined he would end up working in the industry.

However, following a trip to France in 2007 to teach English, he caught the wine bug and has not looked back since. Brendan began his new career by joining the team at Domaine Guiberteau, where he still works. But Romain Guiberteau suggested that he lease a 1ha plot of young Chenin vines in Bizay, next to the Clos de Guichaux, where he could produce his own wines. The first vintage was bottled at the end of March 2017, having spent 12 months in neutral oak barrels, followed by six months in stainless steel tanks. Brendan seeks the same purity and precision in his wines as does Domaine Guiberteau, aiming for a ‘transparent’ reflection of the terroir. The estate follows environmentally conscious principles, with discipline and rigour in the vineyard and a low-interventionist approach to winemaking.

Viticulture

From a single west facing site called La Ripaille in Brézé, the 1.5 metre deep sandy loam topsoil's sit above Turonian limestone. Farming organically and sustainably Brendan has produced this wine since 2018.

Winemaking

Sorting carried out in the vineyard with a sorting table, the bunches are 100% de-stemmed, followed by a 1 to 2 week long native yeast fermentation. After a minimal extraction without pump-overs or punch-downs , the wine aged for 12 months on the lees in barrels then racked and aged for an additional 6 months in steel tank.

Tasting Note

Brendan magically shows the terroir of this site through this limestone earth, spicy Cabernet Franc. Lifted by blackberry and raspberry fruit there is a lovely structure about this wine which is juicy and lingering on the finish. A terrific Saumur!

Food Matching

Grilled meats, game, goat cheese, or traditional Loire dishes like sandre in beurre blanc.