A Wine Journey Through the Loire Valley with Arnaud Saget

An invitation to have breakfast with Arnaud Saget and enjoy his family’s vast portfolio of wines from the Loire Valley? Yes, please! Arnaud Saget is a member of the Saget family, one that is giving a range of experiences to the fortunate wine lover. In fact, the day before, I had attended the annual Spring to Loire event in Chicago where a bevy of producers poured stunning wines, including those from Saget La Perrière . Naturally, I was ready to taste and learn even more, especially since I had just returned from a trip to the region. Held at Chicago’s Sofitel, our group of wine industry colleagues chatted, sipped, savored, and chatted some more over omelettes, fruit, and croissants while envious onlookers wished they had been given the same opportunity.

Arnaud Saget

Arnaud Saget is General Manager of Saget La Perrière. After having held a number of positions in the wine industry, he joined the family business based in Pouilly-sur-Loire and has worked tirelessly to develop the brand’s export department. Now, he travels frequently in his (quite successful) efforts to bolster international distribution of the portfolio. Other aspects of the business demand his attention, too. From establishing and maintaining vineyard training policies to working closely in the blending of the wines to strategizing global marketing efforts, Arnaud Saget is one busy person.

The Saget Family

In essence, “the aim of Arnaud and his brother Laurent (responsible for marketing, communications, and winemaking) is for Saget La Perrière to be emblematic of the very best wines in the Loire Valley”, a diverse and unique region of France.

 

The Loire is France’s longest river, more than 620 miles.  Beginning south of the Massif Central in the southeast of France, the river turns west near Orleans, crosses several notable cities such as Blois, Tours, and Angers, then reaches the Atlantic Ocean near Nantes, off the coast of Brittany.

Because of its length, there are considerable differences in climate and soils among the sub-regions. Pays Nantais, located on the Atlantic coast, has been producing wine since Roman times. You’ll find a maritime climate, soils of volcanic and metamorphic rock, and the production of wines of Melon de Bourgogne. Anjou produces many of the Loire Valley’s sweet wines as well as beautiful, dry Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grolleau, and Chardonnay. A mild continental climate with some maritime influences, as well as slate and sandstone schist soils, support the growth of these varietals.

Further inland is Saumur. With its temperate maritime climate and signature tuffeau limestone soil, Saumur is the Loire Valley’s largest producer of sparkling wines of Chenin Blanc and cultivates many of the same varietes as Anjou. Touraine, also known as the “Garden of France”, exhibits an oceanic and continental climate; tuffeau limestone contributes to the minerality and freshness of the wines of Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Gamay.

Finally, the Centre-Loire, where grapes have been cultivated for over 2000 years, is located in the geographical middle of France. A continental climate coupled with limestone, flint, and sandstone soils are elements that give Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Gamay their distinctive profile.

Saget La Perrière’s wine estates have been acquired gradually over the years and encapsulate the diversity and nuance found in the Loire wine regions’ terroirs. Dotted along the river from East to West, the different vineyards are farmed with utmost care, producing wines with strong identities which express the unique characteristics of their terroirs. The Saget Family

Pouilly-sur-Loire has been the home of the Saget family for nine generations. A forward-thinking decision was made by the family twenty years ago to discover other wine growing areas along the Loire on which grapes could be cultivated. Under the Saget family’s two signature labels, Guy Saget and La Perriere, as well as its estate wines, Domaine Saget in Pouilly-sur-Loire, Domaine de Terres Blanches in Bué-en-Sancerre, Domaines des Grandes Espérances in Touraine, and Château de la Mulonnière in Angou, we’re able to journey through the Loire with a glass in hand. Arnaud was thrilled to share that just recently, 20 hectares had been purchased in Clisson, a premier location in the Pays-Nantais. 16 hectares are already planted to vine and I’m anticipating a pour of beautiful Muscadet from this impressive producer.

Arnaud explained that each property has its own technical staff and is fully independent. Bottling occurs at the Pouilly-sur-Loire location where the lead winemaker has been with the family for 20 years.  “It’s a unique business model. The family has land and property in each of the Loire regions and employs 120 people”. Herbicides and pesticides are used if it’s good for the harvest; the vineyard team is meeting challenges every year. “Frost is incredibly challenging, especially in the Touraine region where each year since 2012, it has been a concern”, stated Arnaud. Twelve windmills have been purchased: four in Pouilly-sur-Loire and three in Touraine.

The Saget family isn’t just producing lovely wines, however. They’re offering wine aficionados a variety of getaways, aptly named “Loire & Terroirs”. Gourmet food, landscapes, and wines (of course!) are available at their array of estates and hotels. For more information, click here.

 

The Wines of the Saget Family

The Guy Saget and La Perrière labels are designed to be “introductions to the world of wine from the Loire” and the estate wines “go deeper into the subtlety and diversity of terroir”. Our group enjoyed each sip and I felt that the wines are not only a bright reflection of the region’s unique qualities but are those that every winelover can appreciate and afford.

Wines with the La Perrière label are of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Intended to be a “straightforward approach to winemaking”, I tasted four choices that were just as easy-drinking as they were easy-on-the-wallet.

The La Petite Perrière Sauvignon Blanc 2016 ($12.99) was an elegant beginning to the morning with notes of freshly picked white flowers, stone fruit, lychees, and light minerality on both the nose and palate. With each sip of La Petite Perrière Rosé 2017 ($13.99), a blend of Pinot Noir from vineyards in the Loire, the Languedoc, and Gascony, I discovered bright acidity, minerality, a fruit driven palate, and freshness that reminded me of the south of France. 100% Pinot Noir was just lovely in La Petite Perrière Pinot Noir 2016 ($13.99), a wine boasting bright blackberry, blueberry, and cherry notes with just-right acidity and a generous mouthfeel. La Perrière Sancerre 2015 ($25.99) was one of my favorites thanks to its pure, structured profile with classic elements of peach, citrus, lemon, and signature minerality so prevalent in wines from the region. The premise of La Perrière Sancerre Megalithe 2014 ($49.99) is to offer an aged Sancerre that is complex and elegant…but without too much oak. I found an aromatic, crisp wine that had just enough vanilla and oak characteristics to pair beautifully with cheeses, delicate fish, scallops, or lobster. Arnaud explained that this beautiful wine had the ability to age for several more years.

Le Domaine Saget in Pouilly-Sur-Loire “brings together a dozen hectares of family vineyards in the best locations across prestigious localities that are Les Vauriguy, Les Chantalouettes, Les Fougeres and Les Roches”. All are located on Kimmeridgian clay-limestone marl soil, an element that lends “body, weight, and creaminess” to the wines produced.

I tasted and craved each sip of Le Domaine Saget Pouilly-Fume 2014 ($28), a 100% Sauvignon Blanc aged on fine lees for 9 months then at least 6-8 months in stainless steel. Arnaud considers this wine a “niche product” with its intense aromas of white flowers, honey, and fruit leading to soft citrus and tropical fruit notes on the palate and stunning minerality on the finish.

Located in Anjou is Château de la Mulonnière where the Saget family owns vineyards in Savennières, Coteaux du Layon and Quarts de Chaume. All wines are of 100% Chenin Blanc, yet each offered a different style.

Our first taste was of Château de la Mulonniere Savennières l’Effet Papillon 2013 ($31.99) from Savennières, a tiny (and superb) grape growing area where slate rock is covered by sandy soil. Arnaud explained that the wine was “vinified with a dry style, but the goal was for some level of botrytis to bring out the character” of the Chenin Blanc. I found sophisticated and complex notes of stone fruit, honey, oak, vanilla and touch of anise on both the nose and palate. This wine was fermented and aged on the lees for 9 months in French oak casks and stainless steel tanks. The Château de la Mulonnière M. de Mulonnière Chenin Blanc 2015 ($14.99) is from vineyards in Anjou where soil is of schist and clay. Fresh, subtle aromas of almonds, juicy fruit and honey led to a balanced profile exuding flavors of the same. Arnaud mentioned that the residual sugar in the wine, about 8-12 grams per litre, allows it to age and is delicious with sushi, Indian or Asian dishes, and dessert. Our final wine of the morning was the beautiful Château de la Mulonnière Coteaux du Layon Beaulieu 2014 ($15.99 for 375 ml). With a fair amount of residual sugar, I explored another style of Chenin Blanc. Perfectly balanced, bright acidity surrounded exotic tropical fruit notes, white fruit, dried apricots and peaches. Delicious with blue cheese, foie gras, or apricot tart, this was a stunning end to a memorable beginning to my day.

Remember those onlookers at breakfast who frequently glanced at our table while wishing they could have a sip of wine?  Saget La Perrière is ready to oblige with worldwide availability for many of these exceptional selections.

Thanks to Arnaud Saget, I can’t think of a better way to have started my day than to take another memorable journey through the Loire Valley, one sip at a time.

Cheers! ~ Cindy