Arnaud Lambert 'Breze' Saumur Rouge Clos Tue Loup, Loire, France 2020

Arnaud Lambert joined the winery founded by his father in 2005. The domaine covers about 30 hectares of vineyards in the appellations of Saumur and Saumur-Champigny. The viticulture was converted organic in 2009 and biodynamic in 2018, in the pursuit to un-earth the true potential of each terroir. Today, Arnaud is known as one of the most prominent Loire growers practicing low-intervention, precise winemaking, remarkably distinguished from the mass-producing cooperatives that dominate the region.

If you like Cabernet Franc and red Burgundy, the red wines from the hill of Brézé are a must try. Of course, these wines come from the Loire Valley but there is a similarity in polish and nobility of Burgundy with the red's of Brézé.

With proper aeration this wine will overflow with high-toned, fresh red and black fruits, followed with rich, red flowers and softer notes of black earth, gravel, meat and iodine. It's raised in old oak barrels to keep the savory earth and pure fruit notes fully intact. During fermentation, it was extracted a mere three times, a strong move to further encourage the purity and precision of the wine. In typical Brézé fashion, the acidity reigns over the tannic structure. Indeed, the tannins are present but they are smoothly polished and serve as a supporting role for the wine's striking and refined acidity. Clos du Tue-Loup lands squarely in the ethereal department of Cabernet Franc, and while there are many examples of this grape that try to make up for their lack of noble terroir, Arnaud works to let Brézé do most of the speaking for the wine.