Arnaud Lambert 'La Rue' Saumur Blanc, Loire Valley, France 2020
Pickup available at DECANT Napa - 2999 Solano, Napa, CA
Usually ready in 1 hour
Arnaud Lambert is leading a quiet revolution in Saumur, showcasing the nuanced terroirs of Brézé through precision farming and micro-parcel vinification. As the first in his family to bottle under their name, Arnaud has elevated Chenin Blanc to new heights. ‘La Rue’ is a standout bottling from one of Brézé’s most expressive sites, where limestone-rich soils and thoughtful élevage yield a wine of mineral intensity and layered depth.
- WINEMAKER: Arnaud Lambert
- FARMING: Certified Organic
- VARIETY: 100% Chenin Blanc
- TERROIR: Clos de la Rue is a 2-hectare, mid-slope parcel in Brézé (60–90m elevation), with sandy limestone topsoil over a compact clay layer, sitting atop porous tuffeau bedrock. This South/Southwest-facing vineyard balances richness and tension, shaped by the interplay of warmth and mineral-laden soils.
- VINIFICATION: Whole-cluster pressed for 4.5 hours. Only the core of the press juice is retained for this cuvée; early and late press fractions are blended into entry-level wines. Spontaneous fermentation in 20% new and 80% used French oak barrels, max 20°C. Partial malolactic (up to 20%). Bâtonnage is used selectively during and after fermentation to counter reduction and build texture. No SO₂ added until bottling.
- AGING: 24 months in 20% new and 80% neutral French oak, followed by 6 months in stainless steel before bottling.
- TASTING NOTES: Layered and mineral, with aromas of yellow orchard fruit, flint, chamomile, and lemon curd. The palate is structured yet weightless, combining a chalky core with hints of lanolin, pear skin, and saline citrus. Finishes long, with quiet power and evolving complexity.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Grilled turbot, roasted sunchokes, aged Comté, or scallops with beurre blanc.
Arnaud Lambert is leading a quiet revolution in Saumur, showcasing the nuanced terroirs of Brézé through precision farming and micro-parcel vinification. As the first in his family to bottle under their name, Arnaud has elevated Chenin Blanc to new heights. ‘La Rue’ is a standout bottling from one of Brézé’s most expressive sites, where limestone-rich soils and thoughtful élevage yield a wine of mineral intensity and layered depth.
- WINEMAKER: Arnaud Lambert
- FARMING: Certified Organic
- VARIETY: 100% Chenin Blanc
- TERROIR: Clos de la Rue is a 2-hectare, mid-slope parcel in Brézé (60–90m elevation), with sandy limestone topsoil over a compact clay layer, sitting atop porous tuffeau bedrock. This South/Southwest-facing vineyard balances richness and tension, shaped by the interplay of warmth and mineral-laden soils.
- VINIFICATION: Whole-cluster pressed for 4.5 hours. Only the core of the press juice is retained for this cuvée; early and late press fractions are blended into entry-level wines. Spontaneous fermentation in 20% new and 80% used French oak barrels, max 20°C. Partial malolactic (up to 20%). Bâtonnage is used selectively during and after fermentation to counter reduction and build texture. No SO₂ added until bottling.
- AGING: 24 months in 20% new and 80% neutral French oak, followed by 6 months in stainless steel before bottling.
- TASTING NOTES: Layered and mineral, with aromas of yellow orchard fruit, flint, chamomile, and lemon curd. The palate is structured yet weightless, combining a chalky core with hints of lanolin, pear skin, and saline citrus. Finishes long, with quiet power and evolving complexity.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Grilled turbot, roasted sunchokes, aged Comté, or scallops with beurre blanc.