German
For us, Domaine Guiberteau is one of the true classics of the Loire and the winery that introduced us to the joys of Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc. Its understated style, precision, and seemingly endless potential have captivated us for a long time, and fortunately—unlike other legendary estates such as Clos Rougeard or Richard Leroy—the wines have always remained reasonably priced. The wines of Romain Guiberteau, who took over the estate in 1996, have always exuded a fabulous calm and balance; even the sometimes stubborn and rough-edged Cabernet Franc is transformed in his cellar into an elegant and refined masterpiece. Now we finally have more in stock than we can drink ourselves..
3 Impasse du Cabernet
49260 St. Juste sur Dive, France
Winery Size 14 Hektar
The vineyards of Domaine Guiberteau have been organically farmed since 2003 and cover just under 14 hectares, with the majority planted with Chenin Blanc. The estate’s plots are spread across several communes within the Saumur appellation, including Bizay, Brézé, Chacé, Montreuil-Bellay, and Saint-Just-sur-Dive. The soils vary: clay-limestone soils in Brézé and Bizay, and deep clay soils in Montreuil-Bellay. The Brézé hill is particularly prestigious and, due to its exceptional potential for Chenin Blanc, is considered one of the best sites in the entire Loire region.
In the cellar, the winemaking process varies depending on the variety and vineyard site. Generally, Chenin Blanc is pressed as whole clusters, while Cabernet Franc is always destemmed. Romain has now switched to shorter maceration periods of about one to two weeks to enhance the wine’s elegance. The so-called “entry-level” Saumur Rouge and Saumur Blanc—don’t be fooled, because these wines also age brilliantly—are fermented in concrete or stainless steel tanks and aged there until bottling. The red single-vineyard wines are also fermented in concrete tanks but are transferred to used barriques after fermentation is complete; a certain proportion of new oak may be present, though it is never dominant or the defining aromatic element. For Guiberteau’s white single-vineyard wines, the wine goes directly into barriques after pressing; while the proportion of new barrels is significantly higher here, the wines from Romaine nevertheless remain pure, straightforward, and lively.