WINE OF THE WEEK - 2018 Antoine Sanzay Saumur Champigny

Welcome to another addition of Wine Wednesday/Wine of the Week Picks!

This week’s wine selection is a bit different for two reasons. Firstly, I didn’t buy this wine in my home market (i.e. Ontario) but rather, picked it up while I was on vacation in the neighbouring province of Quebec. Secondly, it is from a much lesser known region than I usually have access to (which is actually super exciting to a wine geek like me, lol!).

If you’re new to this blog, or haven’t read about these weekly picks that I feature before, be sure to read this blog post where I outline my approach to my weekly Wine Wednesday picks. The focus of this weekly feature is generally to share delicious and affordable wines that are widely available and generally within the reach of most consumers.

As regular readers of this blog will know, because I’m located in Ontario, Canada, I generally buy my wines for the Wine of the Week feature from the LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario). For the convenience of readers who are located in Ontario, I always provide the LCBO Product Number, and a direct link to the LCBO website, in my reviews.  However, this time, the link is to the SAQ, which is the government wine distributor in Quebec. Sadly, Ontario friends, this wine is not available in our market as far as I know… :(

However, this wine should be available online and in other markets. If this isn’t a wine you can get your hands on, I would nonetheless encourage you to read the notes as they relate to the region where this wine is from because it is super interesting and should definitely be on your list of wine regions to watch out for/know.

And with that, let’s get into this week’s pick!

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2018 Antoine Sanzay Saumur Champigny

This week’s wine comes from the Loire Valley of France. The Loire Valley is a relatively big place - I had no idea just how big until I studied it a bit more deeply - and is situated along France’s longest river (the Loire River).

Famed as a place that is bursting with castles and and picturesque towns which make it the ideal tourist destination, the Loire Valley is also a place from which fantastic wine originates. This week’s wine is no exception. Read on to learn more.

What does this wine cost?

$31.00/bottle. A quick reminder that this bottle was purchased at the SAQ in downtown Montreal.

What in the (wine) world is…..Saumur Champigny?

Saumur Champigny is a not a grape, it is a place! Confused? I don’t blame you. French wine labelling practices can certainly be confusing. :) To keep it simple, let’s just say that this is a place that makes pretty good red wines……

Where does this wine come from?

Ok, so here’s where I’ll tell you a bit more about Saumur Champigny!

Located approximately 2 hours away from Paris, Saumur is a town in the Anjou region of the central Loire Valley. Perched on the banks of the Loire River, Saumur is very well known for its picturesque turreted medieval castle. It is equally well regarded for delicious wines!

Wines bearing the name of this area are only permitted (under French law) to be red wine made from the Cabernet Franc (85% minimum is required in all wines), Cabernet Sauvignon or Pineau d’Aunis grapes. Saumur has an exceptionally warm micro-climate for this area. As a result, grapes show great potential here during good years.

The term “Champigny” is permitted to be added to the wines made in the 8 communes closest to Saumur. These are considered to be the best wines of this commune.

Why is this wine unique?

As I noted above, wines from this relatively small commune can be difficult to get your hands on, especially in my market. On top of this, I would hazard a guess that most people outside of France don’t know about wines from Saumur-Champigny, which makes them very cool, and very “edgy” in my mind. Lastly, they are Cabernet Franc dominant, which is rare and always a treat if you ask me!

Who makes this wine?

This wine is produced by Domaine Antoine Sanzay. A family estate that has been steeped in organic viticulture since 2014, Domaine Antoine Sanzay has a very deep commitment to old-school wine-making and limited intervention by the winemaker.

Antoine is the name of the winemaker, who made his first vintage in 2002. Since then, he has managed to transform his family holdings from its humble roots to now being a recognized leader in the region.

Check out this excellent article about Antoine Sanzay to learn more.

A few Wine Geek “essential facts” about the wine (feel free to skip this if you don’t care about detailed wine-making information!):

Variety - 100% Cabernet Franc

Vine Age - 35 years

Vinification - fermented and aged in concrete vats

ABV - 14%

Residual Sugar - 1.5 g/L

Organic wine

My tasting notes:

What a wine! This one is definitely one for the wine geeks out there!

A deep garnet colour, the expressive fruit and floral notes of this wine simply leap out of the glass. You can dig your nose in and breathe in deep and smile - it’s one of those! On the palate, the wine is equal parts fruity, fun and funky, serious. You’ll get blackberries, cherries, and violet notes alongside more serious notes of green pepper, black pepper, sage and tobacco.

A very dry, medium-bodied wine with a long, satisfying, warming finish, this wine has all of the muscle of a serious food wine alongside the prettiness of a more lighthearted, friendly tipple!

Aging potential:

5+ years.

Recommendations to Wineitupanotch:

Pair this wine with red meat, roasted meat, charcuterie, roasted/smoked root vegetables or aged cheeses.

Wineitupanotch Wine Score: 92 points

I think this is one of those special treats that you chance upon from time to time and it really blows your mind!

If you’re located in Quebec, and wish to purchase this wine, you might be able to find it at the SAQ if you’re lucky! :))

FINAL VERDICT:

If you love interesting wines, or know someone else who does, grab this wine if you are lucky enough to be able to find it. I am sure you will not be disappointed!

If you’ve tried this wine already, or decide to pick it up and try it after reading this post, I’d love to hear from you and hear what you think of it! Please do drop me a line.

Until next time, wishing you love, light and of course - good wine! :)

Cheers!

XOXO

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