2021 Domaine du Collier, Saumur Blanc, La Charpentrie

Antoine Foucault’s work at Domaine du Collier is defined by a rigorous adherence to biodynamic viticulture and the preservation of century-old Chenin Blanc vines within the esteemed 'La Charpentrie' lieu-dit. Situated on the hard tuffeau limestone of Brézé, this site yields fruit with a profound mineral depth and a structural skeleton that reflects the sub-region’s specific geological composition. Winemaking is characterized by extended fermentations and multi-year elevage in cold, subterranean cellars, a method that emphasizes textural density and oxidative stability through patient, non-interventionist aging. The 2021 growing season, marked by a cooler temperate profile, has yielded a wine of exceptional nerve, where high-toned acidity and a saline-etched finish frame the concentrated, dry extract of the old-vine fruit. The resulting Saumur Blanc is a technically precise expression of its terroir, offering a lean, architectural intensity that distinguishes the vintage’s shift toward transparency and structural rigor.