Saumur-Champigny Les 3 Jean 2006 Tasting Notes

Saumur-Champigny Les 3 Jean 2004

This year our Saumur-Champigny Les 3 Jean comes from the excellent 2004 vintage. This is the tenth vintage of this exclusive cuvée that Jean-Luc Mary has made for us and it is the perfect wine to round off the decade.

After the excesses of 2003, 2004 represents a return to normality. The weather was warm, without the extreme heat of the previous year, and generally dry. Light rains just prior to harvest served to freshen the grapes without diluting the flavours. The harvest took place under ideal conditions, and the grapes contained high sugar levels combined with soft ripe tannins.

Deep ruby, the wine has a delightful aroma of red and black fruits - raspberry, black cherry and blackberry. This fruit character reappears on the palate, where it is balanced by ripe tannins and gentle acidity. Les 3 Jean is made from grapes grown on a section of vineyard with a high proportion of sandy soils, which contributes to the distinctive taste, and makes for a wine that repays long-term cellaring.

Saumur-Champigny is an amazingly versatile wine as it can be served, slightly chilled, as an apéritif or as an accompaniment to charcuterie and cold meats. It works equally well with mild cheeses and summer salads and is also full-bodied enough to suit roast lamb. The 2004 vintage is a classic; it is already attractive, but it will become more complex and interesting over the next decade.