We're huge fans of classic and unmediated expressions of Cabernet Franc.
Before a few weeks ago, we had never heard of Domaine des Sables Verts. When we tasted their 2020 Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux, it came as a mild revelation.
Their 2020 Poyeux is a pure and fresh expression of Loire Cabernet Franc. There's no effort made to buff out all of the edges, and the wines are more characterful and compelling for it.
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Many of you will immediately take notice of the site. The Poyeux vineyard is considered one of the Loire's best. It assumed prominence due to the wines of Clos Rougeard, whose wines are some of the region's most vaunted.
Sables Verts' Poyeux is worlds apart from Clos Rougeard both in terms of price and style. While Rougeard's version fetches $400-500 per bottle, Sables Verts' can be had for as low as $28.95 in 4-packs.
More importantly, Sables Verts' Poyeux works on an entirely different register. This is a wine that manages to impress without flash or artifice. Much of the attention that Saumur receives goes to producers with grand ambitions, like Clos Rougeard. We're fans of these wines, but they carry a certain polish and drive toward perfection. What we love about the Sables Verts' Poyeux is its directness and clear mineral expression.
The 2020 Poyeux has a textural and tension-filled earthy minerality. It boasts loads of refinement, purity of fruit, and precision. There are notes of spice, licorice, tobacco, and red fruits, each seamlessly melding into one another.
Domaine des Sables Verts' first vintage was 2019 and was founded by the husband and wife team of Caroline Meurée and Hervé Maligne, who met while working in Bordeaux. The domaine is named after the green sands that are a component of the limestone soils of the region and are thought to give the wines a distinctive intensity and freshness.
It's already very clear that this is a domaine to watch. We feel fortunate to find a Saumur-Champigny that delivers so much joy, honesty, and is so beautifully composed for the price.
To order, email offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Joe Salamone
Wine Buyer
Crush Wine & Spirits
Special 4-pack pricing for a limited time. Use Code: Sables-20