Amongst my favourite personal 'discoveries' this year are the wines of Franz Saumon; a favourite because, along with the likes of François Chidaine and Jacky Blot, Franz is another brick in the wall of Montlouis, a wall on which are clearly written the words "I am no longer Vouvray's poor relation". Ignore Montlouis at your peril - there are some really exciting wines coming out of this appellation.
I was to meet Franz at his domaine during the summer but following a storm which damaged some of his vines he was tied up in the vineyard and I couldn't firm up a time and date simply as I couldn't get hold of him. He remains on my 'hit-list' for my next visit to the Loire. In the meantime here are some notes on wines which display his pure and vibrant style; they were tasted in February, hence the reference to bottling in March.
Franz Saumon Montlouis Le Clos du Chêne 2008: A sec style, due to be bottled in March 2010. A fresh and floral nose, clean and delicate and certainly elegant, with nuances of fresh pear fruit and a little creamy edge. The palate is quite fresh, stylish, dry but with good flesh, quite linear, balanced with some vigour. Overall nicely balanced, with lovely style. 16.5+/20
Franz Saumon Montlouis Minérale 2009: This is a demi-sec, rich in aromatic fruit, heady with scents of pear, stylish, youthful with lots of potential. The palate shows some vibrant acidity cutting through a gentle substance, with quite a dry feel despite that demi-sec status. Great flesh, rolling into some beautiful pear fruit in the finish. This lingers very nicely in the end and I think it has really fine potential. 17-18+/20
Franz Saumon Montlouis Minérale 2008: Fresh, restrained, stylish, with delightful floral pear fruit. The palate has a fine structure, a beautifully balanced through the middle, where there is creamy pear, with a fine acidic grip to it too. A wonderful substance, very harmonious but also full and vigorous . Good minerality as well; overall a delicious wine. 17.5+/20