March 17th: Wines of Saumur: Chenin Blanc & Cabernet Franc with Fabien Duveau
At Vinonueva | 5145 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL, 33137 | 7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Click HERE to get tickets
In partnership with Aspect Fine Wine and Bowler Wine.
For this Walkthrough Tasting with winemaker, Fabien Duveau, we’ll explore two defining varieties in the Loire Valley—Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc—through the lens of a single producer, Domaine Fabien Duveau, whose wines capture the precision and character of Saumur. By focusing on one domaine and its vineyards, the tasting offers a deeper look into how soil, parcel, and thoughtful farming shape the wines of this corner of the Loire Valley.
The Loire Valley is a fascinating wine region in France. Stretching hundreds of miles along the Loire River, it is incredibly diverse, producing everything from sparkling wines to age-worthy whites and reds. Yet within this large region, certain areas stand out for their precision and clarity of expression—Saumur and Saumur-Champigny among them.
Located in the central Loire, this area is known for wines rooted in its distinctive limestone (tuffeau) soils, which give the wines their freshness, structure, and mineral character. Here you’ll find a range of styles—from Crémant de Loire to still wines made from Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, and Gamay—but two varieties truly define the appellation: Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc.
Chenin Blanc can deliver the same nuance, tension, and mineral drive that Burgundy lovers often seek in Chardonnay, and Saumur is home to some of the most compelling expressions of the variety in France.
Cabernet Franc, meanwhile, produces reds that are aromatic, vibrant, and finely structured rather than powerful. Although the grape originates from Bordeaux and the Basque region, it finds one of its most expressive homes here. In Saumur, Cabernet Franc truly comes into its own—taking center stage rather than playing a supporting role. The wines can range from fresh, lively cuvées meant to be enjoyed young (often lightly chilled) to more structured bottlings that reward patience.
Interestingly, many Loire producers feel a strong philosophical connection to Burgundy. The emphasis here is not on the estate as in Bordeaux but on the vineyard and its terroir, with wines often highlighting individual sites and soil compositions—an approach very much in the Burgundian tradition.
The Loire is also a region known for its approachability. It has long been a source of wines that are both delicious and accessible, yet capable of remarkable complexity.
ABOUT
Fabien Duveau is one of the most exciting voices in the Loire Valley. Fabien represents the eighth generation of his family estate in Chacé, just outside Saumur, which he took over in 2008. Having grown up working alongside his father and grandfather, he always knew he would become a winemaker. After studying locally and gaining experience in places as varied as Saint-Émilion, Bergerac, and Napa Valley, he returned home to continue the family domaine.
Today, Fabien and his wife, Emmanuelle, manage the estate together. Since taking over, Fabien has converted the vineyards to organic and biodynamic farming and embraced a regenerative approach to agriculture.
The estate covers about 20 hectares spread across roughly 40 parcels, planted primarily to Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc. These vineyards sit in one of the most prized zones of Saumur-Champigny, rooted in the region’s distinctive limestone soils, just steps away from the famed Clos Rougeard. Working parcel by parcel allows Fabien to highlight the subtle variations that shape each wine.
Fermentations take place with native yeasts in concrete tanks, and the wines age in neutral oak in Fabien’s 14th-century cellar, where constant cool temperatures provide ideal conditions for maturation. His approach in the cellar is guided by a simple philosophy: if the fruit is good, the role of the winemaker is simply to guide the fermentation and allow the vineyard to speak.
Among the estate’s most celebrated vineyards is Les Poyeux, a historic site mentioned as early as 1802 and long considered one of the finest terroirs in Saumur. Fabien is the first grower to distinguish between Haut Poyeux and Bas Poyeux, recognizing differences in soil composition, elevation, and exposure that lead to distinct expressions in the glass. Alongside these wines are other standout parcels such as Le Bourg and Bois du Chêne near Brézé.
‘Fabien describes himself as an “ardent believer in Cabernet Franc,” drawn to its purity and complexity—wines that show vibrant fruit, supple tannins, and delicate floral notes of violet and iris. Across the range, his wines are defined by precision, freshness, and a deep respect for place.’ Schatzi Wines
Fabien has quietly elevated the estate year after year, refining what he inherited while staying rooted in the traditions of Saumur.
Check out the lineup for this tasting:
- Fabien Duveau - Saumur Blanc La Hunaudière 2023
- Fabien Duveau - Saumur Blanc Les Poyeux 2022
- Fabien Duveau - Saumur Blanc Breze 'Le Bois du Chêne' 2023
- Fabien Duveau - Saumur-Champigny Gaignes 2023
- Fabien Duveau - Saumur-Champigny Les Bas Poyeux 2022
Photo credits: Fabien Duveau