Clos de l'Écotard Saumur Rouge 2021

Kapow! Bam! Zap! It’s l’Écotard’s first red wine, and it’s insanely delicious. The Chevré family took over two hectares of Cabernet Franc in 2021, and those vines have already been put to good use. The vineyard, in the commune of Fosse-Bellay, is an ancient clos, although the vines are between 50 and 60 years old. The ploughed, light sandy soils, and Thibaut Chevré’s light touch in the cellar, give rise to the kind of juiciness, perfume and freshness that wine bars were invented for! The winemaking here follows the infusion model; 20 days with very few pump-overs and then a short aging for five months in a mix of stainless steel and sandstone amphora.

Simply, this is a vibrant, perfumed and sappy Saumur red with waves of crisp blue fruit, baking spice and floral prettiness, framed by powdery, chalky tannins on a driven take-me-to-dinner finish.