La Porte Saint Jean Saumur-Champigny 2020

Wine Type: White
Vintage: 2020
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Grape Variety: 100% Chenin Blanc
Appellation: Saumur Blanc AOC (Les Pouches)
Country: France
Region: Loire Valley – Saumur (Arbois Les Pouches, Montreuil-Bellay)
Producer / Winemaker: Sylvain Dittière
Vineyards: Single parcel “Les Pouches” planted to 40-year-old Chenin Blanc vines on south-facing slopes just outside Montreuil-Bellay, hand-harvested at optimal ripeness
Soil: Jurassic limestone subsoil intermixed with silex, clay and sand, lending pronounced minerality and chalky tension
Farming: Practicing organic, minimal intervention, hand-picked fruit, no herbicides
Alcohol: 12.5% 
Fermentation & Élevage: Direct-pressed to concrete vats; native-yeast fermentation; aged 18 months in used oak barrels (predominantly old Bordeaux barrels); bottled unfined, unfiltered, minimal added SO₂

Tasting Notes

Pale straw with green-gold highlights. The nose presents lemon zest, white peach and pear skin, layered over crushed stone and a hint of honeycomb. On the palate, bright citrus (lime and grapefruit zest) melds with orchard fruit and chalky salinity. A subtle mid-palate creaminess—gained from extended lees contact—enhances texture without sacrificing vibrancy. A spine of racy acidity carries through a bone-dry, mineral-driven finish with a touch of white flower and crushed almond.

Food Pairings

Oysters on the half shell • Steamed mussels in white wine • Goat-cheese tartines with herb oil • Pan-seared scallops with beurre blanc • Asparagus and fava bean risotto • Comté fondue

About the Producer

A native of Saumur, Sylvain Dittière founded La Porte Saint-Jean in 2010 after working with several top Loire estates. He farms his own parcels and selects fruit from trusted organic growers. In the cellar, he champions native fermentations and extended élevage to highlight each site’s terroir. The 2020 “Les Pouches” Saumur Blanc exemplifies his philosophy: a pure, mineral-driven Chenin Blanc that captures the limestone soils and cool Atlantic influence of Saumur.