Arnaud Lambert "Clos David" Saumur Blanc 2023

Arnaud Lambert is one of the Loire Valley's most exciting young winemakers, farming biodynamically in Saumur and making wines that are precise, pure, and full of energy. 

Clos David is one of Lambert's monopole vineyards—a small, walled parcel of old Chenin Blanc vines on tuffeau (the local limestone) that he farms biodynamically. This is where Lambert really shows what he can do: wines that are precise, mineral-driven, and built to age but also delicious young.

The 2023 shows everything great about Loire Chenin: quince, white flowers, and honey over this incredible chalky minerality. The texture is almost waxy, the acidity is electric, and there's this persistent stony quality that just goes on and on. It's fermented and aged in neutral oak to add complexity without overwhelming the fruit.

This will age beautifully for a decade or more, but it's also gorgeous now. Pair it with roasted chicken, creamy goat cheese, or just drink it while thinking about limestone.

Region: Saumur AOC, Loire Valley
Variety: Chenin Blanc
Vineyard: Clos David (monopole)
Farming: Biodynamic
Winemaking: Neutral oak fermentation and aging
ABV: 13%

Explicitly delicious.