La Porte Saint Jean - Saumur Les Pouches Cab Franc 2020

This is the 4th vintage of Les Pouches rouge. Les Pouches is a 40 years and 70 years old parcel of Cabernet Franc planted on a subsoil made of limestone from the Jurassic period and silex, clay and sand mix. The vines are 50% 70 years old and 50% 20 years old and they are located just outside the village of Montreuil-Bellay. 

The grapes were destemmed and macerated for 3 weeks, brought by gravity into barrique 10% new and spent 24 months. A pinch of SO2 few weeks prior bottling, no fining and no filtration. This cuvee is probably one of his best  ever made. The vintage was very solar, warmer. The wine is ripe but bright the tannins are silky and the overall moutfheel is deep.

"Sylvain Dittiere, nicknamed “TonTon”, grew up in Saumur where his parents were growing roses. After his studies of oenology, he interned with Gerard Gauby, Marc Tempe, Thierry Germain and Antoine Foucault… not bad places ☺Back to the Loire, in 2010 he started La Porte Saint Jean. He was able to find a vineyard in Saumur-Champigny that was organically farmed and yields that were no more than 40hl/ha.

The Cabernet Franc is planted on sand, silt, clay with a subsoil of limestone. From this parcel, he crafts two cuvees; La Porte Saint Jean & Les Beaugrands. Recently, he added 2 more vineyards; Les Cormiers planted with Cabernet Franc in the AOC Saumur and his white parcel planted with old vines of Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc respectively called Saut Mignon and La Perlee. Sylvain makes no concessions; the work in the vineyards is intense and precise to reach each year ripeness and balance. As well, detailed oriented “TonTon” makes a strict sorting.

In terms of vinification, all natural with a bit of SO2 at the end bottled without filtration or fining, the aging takes place in a combination of used barrels from Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhone. Clearly within a few years, Sylvain has become one of the most talented vigneron in the region.

"Ripe but bright" with "silky tannins" and a "deep overall mouthfeel". This suggests a well-balanced wine with good fruit ripeness, lively acidity, smooth texture, and complexity.  Full-bodied, with ripe fruit flavors, good acidity, smooth tannins, and potential notes of minerality.

Type: Red
Producer: La Porte Saint Jean
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Country: France
Region: Loire, Saumur