Appellation: Saumur Blanc.
Cuvée: Poil de Lièvre.
Colour: White.
Grapes: Chenin Blanc.
About: the name comes from the parcel; the wine is a straightforward, sappy, savoury, lively, stripped down expression of Chenin Blanc, the emphasis on pure drinkability.

Vines

Location: in Montreuil Bellay 16km south of Saumur.
Size: 2.
Age: 15 to 50 years old.
Soils: limestone and clay.
Exposition: flat.
Altitude: 80.
Training: guyot.
Farming: organic, biodynamic, ploughing. Certified AB.
Average yield hl/ha: 45.
Climate: continental with cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers.

Winemaking

The harvest is picked by hand. It’s pressed direct in pneumatic press to concrete tank to ferment using natural yeasts at temperatures controlled to around 22ºC. The malo happens naturally It’s aged for four months in mix of concrete and oak barrel on its fine lees. No sulfites or other additives. It’s bottled after natural clarification, without filtration.

Vintage notes 2018
A lovely year with a great balance due to nature’s delivery of the right amount at the right time of both rain and sunshine. The risk of mildew was minimised. The resultant wines pack a lovely vegetal juiciness with pure aromas.
Yield hl/ha: 40.
Date bottled: 2019-03.
Alcohol: 13.74%.
SO2 Total: 0 added.

Vintage notes 2019
A generally excellent year spoiled by a frost in spring which reduced the crop by 40%. After, there was plenty of sunshine, a good floraison, some heatwave which didn’t hurt.
Yield hl/ha: 40
Harvested: mid sept
Bottles produced: 15,000
Date bottled: 2020-03
Alcohol: 13%
SO2 Total: 0 added
Tasting: lovely vegetal overtones, very relaxed, nashi pear, white pepper, sappy, salty, touch of astringence, very natural.

Vintage notes 2020
A very good year, with plenty of time to take care of the vineyard. Plenty of sunshine, some beneficial rain and an early harvest with easy fermentations. Wine style is very pure.
Made in only inox and concrete.
Yield hl/ha: 40
Harvested: early sept
Bottles produced: 15,000
Date bottled: 2021-02
Alcohol: 13%
SO2 Total:
Tasting: very consistent with 2019, perhaps more vegetal, salty, rich nashi pear, very digestible.