An American expat turned Loire rising star, Brendan Stater-West has built a reputation for electric whites—and now, equally thrilling reds—from his tiny cellar in Saumur. His 2023 Saumur Rouge, sourced from Cabernet Franc vines rooted deep in chalky tuffeau limestone, is a study in precision and energy: vibrant, mineral, and layered with quiet intensity.
The nose is vivid and lifted—red currant, wild herbs, and a trace of graphite. On the palate, it’s sleek and tense, with crunchy red fruit, a pulse of bright acidity, and a savory, stony finish that feels etched into the limestone. Native yeast fermentation, aging in neutral barrels, and a minimalist hand in the cellar—this is Cabernet Franc stripped to its essential, crystalline core.
Region: Saumur, Loire Valley, France
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Farming: Organic
Aging: Neutral oak
Style: Fresh, mineral, and taut
An American expat turned Loire rising star, Brendan Stater-West has built a reputation for electric whites—and now, equally thrilling reds—from his tiny cellar in Saumur. His 2023 Saumur Rouge, sourced from Cabernet Franc vines rooted deep in chalky tuffeau limestone, is a study in precision and energy: vibrant, mineral, and layered with quiet intensity.
The nose is vivid and lifted—red currant, wild herbs, and a trace of graphite. On the palate, it’s sleek and tense, with crunchy red fruit, a pulse of bright acidity, and a savory, stony finish that feels etched into the limestone. Native yeast fermentation, aging in neutral barrels, and a minimalist hand in the cellar—this is Cabernet Franc stripped to its essential, crystalline core.
Region: Saumur, Loire Valley, France
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Farming: Organic
Aging: Neutral oak
Style: Fresh, mineral, and taut
