Brendan-Stater West, L'Ardillon, 2022

Stone Fruit, Chalk, Saline

Loire / White / Chenin Blanc / Organic

The vineyards are farmed organically with meticulous attention to soil health and biodiversity. The grapes are hand-harvested and whole-bunch pressed before undergoing spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in old barrels. No sulphur is used during vinification. The wine completes malolactic fermentation naturally and is aged on fine lees for around a year in neutral oak, with no bâtonnage or racking. Bottling takes place without fining or filtration, preserving the energy and texture of the Chenin. The result is a pure, precise and deeply mineral expression of Saumur limestone.

Notes on the producer

Brendan Stater-West, an American-born winemaker now based in Saumur, began his journey in wine while teaching English in Paris. His passion led him to work under the guidance of Romain Guiberteau, one of the Loire Valley’s most respected vignerons, where he honed his understanding of Chenin Blanc and the terroir of Brézé. In 2015, Brendan established his own label, focusing on small, organically farmed parcels rooted in tuffeau limestone soils. He works with an artisanal philosophy: low yields, manual vineyard work, and gentle, gravity-fed winemaking. Fermentations are spontaneous, élevage is patient, and sulfur is used minimally, if at all. His wines are noted for their tension, purity, and sense of place—hallmarks of the great whites of Saumur. Production remains small, making each vintage increasingly sought after.