2022 Sylvain Dittiere, Saumur-Champigny, La Porte Saint Jean

Sylvain Dittière operates with a philosophy of minimal intervention, employing strictly organic farming and native yeast fermentations to translate the specific conditions of his Saumur-Champigny parcels into the glass. The vineyard sites are defined by a complex mosaic of sand, silt, and clay topsoils sitting directly atop a Jurassic limestone subsoil, which provides the drainage and mineral foundation necessary for high-quality Cabernet Franc. In the 2022 vintage, the hot and dry growing season resulted in concentrated fruit and thick skins, yielding a wine of notable density and structural power. Dittière’s precise approach—typically featuring extended maceration followed by patient aging in used barrels within subterranean limestone cellars—successfully integrates these concentrated tannins with a firm, nervy acidity that maintains tension and balance on the palate.