La Porte Saint Jean ‘Le Saut Mignon’ Blanc 2019

Location: France, Loire, Saumur

Winemaker: Sylvain Dittière

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc

Soil: Clay, silt, alluvials

Winemaking: Hand-harvested and vinified using indigenous yeasts. Aged 20 months in large barrel.

From us at M&L: ‘Saut Mignon’ comes from 60 year old vines, all tended biodynamically. Powerfully aromatic with rippling, bursting white fruits—think ripe white peach, marigold, caramelized sweet mushrooms, caramel, and bruised meyer lemon. Sensual, melting, honeyed qualities in the mouth. Can comfortably age another 10 years. Drink with richer foods like foie gras or aged goat cheese, or with spicy dishes.

From the Importer Avant Garde: Sylvain Dittiere, nicknamed “TonTon”, grew up in Saumur where his parents were growing roses. After studying oenology, he interned with Gerard Gauby, Marc Tempe, Thierry Germain and Antoine Foucault.

Upon returning to the Loire in 2010, Sylvain started La Porte Saint Jean. He was able to find a vineyard in Saumur-Champigny that was organically farmed and yields that were no more than 40hl/ha. The Cabernet Franc is planted on sand, silt, clay with a subsoil of limestone. From this parcel, he crafts two cuvees; La Porte Saint Jean & Les Beaugrands. Recently, Sylvain added 2 more vineyards; Les Cormiers planted with Cabernet Franc in the AOC Saumur and his white parcel planted with old vines of Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc respectively called Saut Mignon and La Perlee.

Sylvain makes no concessions; the work in the vineyards is intense and precise to reach each years' ripeness and balance. As well, detailed oriented “TonTon” makes a strict sorting. In terms of vinification, all natural with a bit of SO2 at the end bottled without filtration or fining, the aging takes place in a combination of used barrels from Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhone.

Clearly within a few years, Sylvain has become one of the most talented vigneron in the region.