The Saumur Blanc Graippeaux 2022 is Etienne's the first white wine at La Durandière. It comes from a single-plot of 70-year-old Chenin Blanc massale selection vines. Located in the village of Ternay that is renowned for high quality whites wines in the Saumur appellation. Terroir is CLASSIC for Saumur whites: Green Chalk topped with a layer of clay-silt. This will change in future vintages, but the 2022 aged in barrels between 1 and 2 years of use between 228-600L. Bottling was done without fining or filtration after 22 months of maturing. Sulfites was added at bottling in minute amounts, less than 20 mg/L total. (buveurdevin.com)

Our Tasting Note
A medium lemon yellow color. A pronounced nose, rich, with some oxidation and spice accents, gingerbread, Meyer lemons, lemon oil, lemon rind, and candied orange, and crushed stones. Medium bodied, intense med+ acids hum with energy, a pronounced flavor intensity, with a long, complex and fresh finish. There is no new oak on this wine, but subsequent vintages will have a partial amount.

Grape: Chenin Blanc
Surface Area: 1.5 ha (3.70 ac)
Vine Age: Planted in 1947 and 1955
Terroir: On a northwest-facing hillside, sandy glauconitic olive chalk (tuffeau) with calcareous sandstone, well-draining.
Viticulture: Organic, biodynamic practices, Guyot-Poussard pruning.
Vinification: Directly pressed, settled, ambient yeast fermentation in used barrels, full malolactic conversion, aged for 2 years in barrels and demi muids (new and used), SO2 added at bottling (less than 20 ppm).