2021 Les Perrieres Saumur Saint-Cyr-en-Bourg (blanc)

Yves Lambert founded Domaine de Saint-Just in 1996 in Saint-Cyr-en-Bourg, Saumur — at age 47, having decided to return to his Saumur roots after a previous career. The original ambition was to express Saumur's two defining grape varieties — Cabernet Franc (red) and Chenin Blanc (white) — through the unique terroirs of Saint-Cyr-en-Bourg in the Saumur Champigny appellation. Arnaud Lambert joined his father in 2005, continuing the same vision; in 2009 the pair began the conversion of the estate's vineyards to organic farming and took over the farming of eight separate Clos previously managed by Château de Brézé.

In 2017 Arnaud established the eponymous domaine, merging Domaine de Saint-Just with the rented Château de Brézé parcels into a single 40+-hectare operation. The Brézé parcels are particularly significant — Château de Brézé is a UNESCO World Heritage site whose wines were historically traded yearly for Château d'Yquem Sauternes by French royalty. The estate's continental Saumur climate (with the Massif Armoricain creating an unusually dry rain-shadow effect) suits the Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc styles. The current range covers Saumur Blanc (single-vineyard Clos and entry-tier expressions), Saumur Rouge, Saumur Champigny, Crémant de Loire, and a range of single-Clos Brézé wines.

Cellar-list single-vineyard Saumur Blanc; pairs with crustacean, roast chicken with truffle, aged hard cheeses; lay down 5-10 years.