Saumur-Champigny Les Terrages Clotilde Legrand (anciennement René-Noël Legrand) 1997

Domaine René-Noël Legrand in the heart of Saumur-Champigny has been a family run business since the 17th Century. The vines are 45 years old on average although the oldest were planted in 1927. Harvesting is carried out exclusively by hand. The grapes are de-stalked and then fermented for three to five weeks at 27 to 30°C in stainless steel tanks. The wine ferments naturally and the malolactic fermentation stage, avoiding wood, is also natural. Chaptalisation was stopped in the early 2000s. This leading light within the appellation stands out for its fresh and refined cuvées that reflect their individual terroirs exquisitely and age with style. What's more, prices are very reasonable for such high quality wines.

This wine, aged in vats, exudes wonderful fruitiness (blackcurrant in particular), as well as menthol notes. On the palate, it unfurls roundness, delicacy, a very fine balance and velvety tannins. A wine that can be drunk both young and after several years.