Château de Villeneuve
The ‘Petrus of Saumur Champigny’, so says the owner of Petrus! M Chevallier taught œnology at Bordeaux University before becoming one of the Loire region’s foremost producers, though the Château has been in the family since 1969. With a property of only 15 hectares of Cabernet Franc, on a chalky soil on the hill just up the river from Saumur itself, this is very much a ‘boutique’ winery. Some bio-dynamic principles are being used in the vineyards and the wine-making and élevage takes place in the natural cellars hewn out of the limestone rock - the wines mature here in 400-500 litre wooden vats called ‘tonnes’. Some Saumur Blanc is also made from Chenin Blanc.