At A Glance
- Region
- Loire Valley
- Appellation
- Saumur
- Main white wine
- Brézé Chenin Blanc
- Main red wine
- Saumur Rouge Domaine Guiberteau 2023
- Farming
- Certified organic vineyards
The Producer
Clément Manguin founded the vineyard at the beginning of the 20th century. His son-in-law Robert Guiberteau inherited the property and became one of the founding members of the cave cooperative of Saumur. The family line later reached Romain Guiberteau, who spent two years in the mid 1990s working as an assistant with the Foucault brothers of Clos Rougeard.
In 1997, Romain took over the land maintained by his grandfather and made his first few barrels of red wine. Domaine Guiberteau now has 9.4 hectares under vine, including 7 hectares in Brézé. Vine ages range from 4 to 80 years, with a substantial share of old vines.
The vineyards are certified organic. Synthetic products are prohibited and harvests are done by hand. Indigenous yeasts are preferred, no other additions are used, and sulphur remains very minimal.
Place
The vineyards lie in Saumur, with Brézé as the central named terroir. Brézé is referred to as a de facto grand cru site, a term used for a top vineyard classification. Its name appears directly in the white wine, while Saumur appears in the red wine's name.
This creates two levels within the range. Brézé identifies a specific terroir, while Saumur names the wider appellation. The labels therefore connect a named site with a broader regional wine.
Wines
Brézé Chenin Blanc is the dry white wine, made from Chenin Blanc grown in the Brézé terroir. The range also includes Saumur Rouge Domaine Guiberteau 2023, a red wine from the Saumur appellation.
The 2023 vintage faced heat waves and humidity, while careful farming delivered quality. The range moves between a named site white and a Saumur red, with Chenin Blanc and red wine showing different sides of the domaine's production.
In The Glass
Brézé Chenin Blanc is assertive and brilliantly mineral. The style is dry, with the grape carrying a firm mineral presence rather than a soft or sweet impression.
The 2018 Saumur Rouge shows vivacious acidity, very fine satiny tannins and chalky minerality on the finish. Its character is ethereal, lacy and refined, with a focused palate and considerable nuance.
A Bottle To Understand It
Choose Brézé Chenin Blanc. It is a dry Chenin Blanc from the named Brézé terroir, made with whole cluster pressing and indigenous yeast fermentation. The bunches go into the press intact, while indigenous yeast refers to naturally present yeasts beginning the fermentation.
The wine ages for 18 months on fine lees in barrel. Fine lees are spent yeast cells, and time on them can add texture and length to a dry white wine. This bottle keeps the grape, the named site and the cellar method together in one wine.
Final Word
Domaine Guiberteau joins organic hand harvested vineyards in Saumur with dry Chenin Blanc from Brézé and Saumur Rouge. The range stays close to its named ground, from the Brézé white to the chalk marked red.
Sources
- www.candidwines.com/post/discover-the-rich-history-of-domaine-guiberteau
- www.thatslifegourmet.com/bc-wine-loire-producers/domaine-guiberteau
- www.buvonswine.com/products/guiberteau-breze-saumur-blanc
- nyc.flatiron-wines.com/products/domaine-guiberteau-saumur-rouge-2023-750ml
- www.cabfrancchronicles.com/p/domaine-guiberteau-2018-saumur-rouge-0ef
- www.shawnfinewine.com/products/210000010723