Saumur-Champigny, “Les Sables”

“Les Sables” is the estate’s primary cuvée of Cabernet Franc, with the oldest vines going to the “Vieilles Vignes” bottling below. Grapes are harvested by hand and entirely de-stemmed; fermentation takes place in stainless steel and occurs spontaneously; and extraction is obtained primarily via remontage during a 10-to-12-day maceration. As with the Chenin Blanc, sulfur dioxide is applied only at bottling and only minimally. This wine is remarkably fresh, with fully ripe, snappy red fruits and beautifully integrated tannins—a testament to this appellation’s capacity for producing elegant Cabernet Franc. This is the kind of wine that just feels good to consume.