2018 Loïc Mahé Savennières Cuvée O

WINEMAKER: Loïc Mahé
REGION: Loire Valley, FR
VARIETY: Chenin Blanc
VITICULTURE: Organic/Biodynamic

Chiselled and tracing. Warm, shallow soil of green and purple schist. Equilibre Vineyard aged in a concrete egg - the French oeuf.

Savennières is one of a handful of truly exceptional appellations in the Loire Valley, dedicated to the Chenin Blanc variety. And of all of them, it is without doubt the greatest when it comes to producing immensely powerful dry white wines. Loïc Mahé was acutely aware of this fact when he began slowly constructing his Domaine in the year 2000, first by purchasing unplanted land within AOC Savennières, then purchasing significant old vine plantings, and finally an immaculate winery where all his wines are now calmly, carefully brought to life.

Everything was managed and certified organically from the outset, with the addition of biodynamic philosophies and vineyard preparations. Today, Loïc farms just 4ha of Chenin Blanc, and a small plot of Cabernet Franc for red. All of his vineyards are perfectly situated, all facing directly south on the gentle slopes above the escarpment north of the Loire river. The vineyards are predominantly blue and red schist under very thin topsoils of wind blown sands. Loic makes his wines slowly, naturally, always allowing the wines to take the time they need to ferment dry with their indigenous yeasts, happy sitting tranquilly in old oak barrels or other interesting vessels. The only addition is very small amounts of So2 close to bottling.

The wines are ultra pure and mineral, yet always retain a generosity to go with the fistful of shattered shale essence. They walk the line.