Tasting Notes
The Brézé hill is home to at least nine historic and clearly delimited Clos (or enclosed single climats), most still owned by the Château de Brézé. Of these nine Clos, three were singled out in the last century for their outstanding quality by Maurice Edmond Sailland (author of Très Grands Vins de Saumur, and better known by his pen name of Curnonsky). The Guiberteau clan own one of these three, the monopole of Clos des Carmes, acquired by Romain’s grandfather in 1955. That’s some good buying right there! It’s a south-facing vineyard that sits mid-slope on the belly of the hill and covers some 2.6 hectares. The entire parcel was replanted with massale cuttings by Robert Guiberteau (Romain’s father) in 2004.
Only 0.8 hectares of the vineyard (producing 30 hl/ha) are used for the Clos de Carmes bottling, with the remainder declassified (for now) into the Saumur Blanc. The élevage is the same as for the Brézé cuvée—whole-cluster pressing, indigenous yeast fermentation in barrel (new, one- and two-year-old oak) and 18 months aging on fine lees in cask. Despite the similar upbringing, this wine is typically more tightly wound than Guiberteau’s classic Brézé bottling, and for this reason, the cuvée is rested for a further year in bottle before release. - Importer Note
Domaine Guiberteau has rapidly ascended to cult status in the Loire Valley, producing some of the region’s most thrilling expressions of Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc. Based in Saumur, the domaine is centred on old vines planted in the Brézé area, a terroir long regarded as one of the Loire’s greatest for Chenin Blanc. The vineyards sit on chalky tuffeau limestone with clay and sand topsoils, yielding wines of striking tension, depth and longevity.
The domaine’s history dates back to the early 20th century, but its modern renaissance began in the late 1990s when Romain Guiberteau returned to take over from his grandfather. With guidance from Clos Rougeard’s Nady Foucault, he embraced organic viticulture, rigorous vineyard selection, and a philosophy of minimal intervention in the cellar. Today, Guiberteau farms around 9 hectares, all certified organic, with a focus on low yields and precision.
His range spans from the vibrant and saline Saumur Blanc and Saumur Rouge, to single-vineyard bottlings such as Clos de Guichaux, Les Arboises and the legendary Brézé, each reflecting the nuances of their specific sites. The whites are crystalline and mineral, often compared to great white Burgundy, while the reds show Cabernet Franc at its most refined, combining perfume, texture and intensity.
Domaine Guiberteau has become a touchstone for the new generation of Loire growers: a domaine that delivers wines of both immediate drinkability and profound cellar potential, with authenticity and terroir at their core.
| Product Type | Wine White Chenin Blanc |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Country | France |
| Region | Loire Valley |
| Sub Region | Saumur |
| Winemaking Practices | Minimal Intervention |
| Vineyard Practices | Organic/Biodynamic |