Saget La Perrière
(An Online Virtual Visit)
by
Kathy and Terry Sullivan
Images provided by
Saget La Perrière, Taub Family Selections, unless otherwise noted.
This article describing Saget la Perrière is based on the online interview, online data and photos supplied by Taub Family Selections. We also received samples. This article was written during the time of the world-wide 2020-2021 pandemic. Proprietor Arnaud Saget kindly took the time to answer our questions.
Summary: Saget La Perrière, with wines produced from grapes throughout the Loire Valley, was established about forty years ago by Jean-Louis Saget. His ancestors were grape growers and later winemakers. Today Saget La Perrière is operated by Arnaud and Laurent Saget. Arnaud is involved with Operations and Sales and Laurent manages the vineyards, including assisting with viticulture techniques and the blending of wines. Arnaud and Laurent work closely together.
The Saget family considers the winery to be an ambassador for the Loire Valley. Grapes and grape must are obtained from many of the Loire regions. The winery has 800 acres of vineyards spread out over 6 properties in the Loire Valley. Arnaud wrote, “Our main role is to promote the diversity of our wine region. Our collection of estates and brands is designed to bring consumers to a journey in our region with the respect of the identity of each region, terroir and grape variety from the Loire Valley.”
We asked Arnaud what made Saget La Perrière unique. He replied, “Our winery is the only family owned winery in the Loire that operates with its own properties in all the four main sub-regions of the vineyard (Central vineyard, Touraine, Anjou-Saumur & Muscadet). The fact we operate first as growers in all these regions gives our negociant activity a lot of credibility and therefore allows us to build close and strong partnerships with other growers in the Loire Valley.”
History
Wine Trail Traveler was curious about the long wine history of the Saget family. Arnaud wrote: “Our family has been growing grapes in the village of Pouilly-sur-Loire for nine generations. From the research our father did, he found out our ancestors started to grow grapes right after the French revolution. My grandfather, Guy, already produced wines as well as his own father.”
It was Arnaud and Laurent’s parents who decided to expand the vineyards in the 1970s. Prior to Jean-Louis Saget taking over the vineyards, the only vineyards owned by the Saget family were located in Pouilly-sur-Loire. “The winery really changed and expanded when our parents took over from our grandfather in the mid-70s. At that time, the vineyard was only located in Pouilly-sur-Loire and was just a few hectares big. With his vision of establishing the winery not only in Pouilly but in the entire Loire Valley, our father started to make acquisition of wine estates in the late 80s. The most strategic acquisition out of all the others he made was La Perrière in Sancerre with its 45 hectares of vineyard and its beautiful and unique wine cellar located in a huge natural cave.” The photo below shows their vineyards in Sancerre.
Another memorable achievement of Jean-Louis was to establish the storage of wine Pouilly Fumé bottles in the ocean. The Pouilly Fumé was stored underwater for four years. Arnaud wrote enthusiastically about this project, “Our father had this idea after reading an article in a local newspaper saying roman amphoras where found in the Loire River. He then had the idea to launch an experimentation by immersing close to 10,000 bottles into the Atlantic ocean for four years and to keep the same amount of the same wine in our cellar in Pouilly. His idea was primarily to study the effect of a long storage under the water versus normal conditions. After four years, we took out the wines from the ocean and conducted a comparative tasting. You would see the difference just by looking at the color of both wines. The wine that was aged in the water looked younger and was definitely fresher on the nose and palate. Three main reasons for that: no oxidation because of the water, few variations in temperatures and brightness and the perpetual motion of the ocean. After over 20 years being stored in the same conditions, the differences between 'the wines from the ocean' and 'the wines from the earth' still remains.”
The 800 acres of vineyards include many grape varieties including: Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin, Pinot Noir, Gamay, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Côt, Folle Blanche and Melon de Bourgogne. Saget La Perrière also sources grape must and wine from the Loire Valley.
The growers from whom Saget La Perrière sources grape must and wines have had long relationships with Saget La Perrière, thereby creating confidence in the growers’ vineyard techniques. On occasion, the growers will seek advice from Saget La Perrière staff. Arnaud wrote, “All the must and wines are tested when they arrive as it is a quite standard process for our winemakers.”
Wine Production
Arnaud described the winemaking at Saget La Perrière. “Each estate has its own cellar and is independent to harvest and the vinification of wines. Our main facility and head office is located in the hometown of the family Pouilly-sur-Loire. For all of our properties, it won’t take more than 30 minutes to bring the grapes into the cellar at the harvest time.”
“We currently have 5 winemakers in our team. Most of them have the responsibility of managing both the vineyard and the cellar where they are located. Our winemaker in Pouilly, Bruno Mineur doesn’t manage the vineyard there but is in charge of all the purchases and relationships with our growers partners. My brother Laurent is managing all of them and assists them in the viticultural strategy and the blending of the wines.”
Saget La Perrière wines are exported to many countries. The primary countries that receive Saget La Perrière wines include: the United States, United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Germany and Ireland.
Wines
We tasted two Sauvignon Blancs. The 2019 Sancerre was crafted with 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes from the Sancerre AOC (pictured right by Wine Trail Traveler). The 13% alcohol wine had a light gold color. The aroma offered floral and tropical fruit notes. The taste reminded us of peaches, pineapple, mangos and honeysuckle. This wine had a full body with a crispy finish that saw the fruit yield to mineral on the aftertaste. Pair the wine with fish, specifically salmon or tuna steaks, or chicken.
The 2018 Blanc Fumé de Pouilly was made with 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Pouilly-Fumé AOC. The 13% alcohol Sauvignon Blanc had a yellow color with gold hue. The aroma offered tropical fruits. While the taste included pineapple, peach, citrus and mineral. The medium/full bodied wine had a very crisp finish. Fruit yielded to mineral (flint) on the aftertaste. The wine would pair with fish and goat cheese. It also can be served as an aperitif. Try pairing with asparagus.
The 2017 Saget la Perrière Les Clissages D’Or Sur Lie, AOC Muscadet Sèvre et Maine had a golden yellow color with a light green hue. This 12% alcohol wine was made with 100% Melon de Bourgogne grapes. This centuries old grape variety has a home in the Loire Valley. Floral and tropical notes were on the aroma. The taste included daisies, melon, citrus and mineral. The finish was crisp, refreshing and leaving you wanting more. Pair this wine with seafood, cheese and crackers or a rocking chair in a shady spot on a warm day.
The 2015 Marie de Beauregard Vouvray was made from 100% Chenin Blanc. The wine had a gold color. The 12.5% alcohol wine’s aroma was noticed immediately after removing the cork. The aroma was floral, fruity and had mineral notes. The taste was reminiscent of a summer fruit salad with honey tones and honeysuckle. On the finish, fruit and honey yielded to pleasant mineral. The aftertaste was long. The wine demands one's attention. There is much going on in a glass of Vouvray to spark discussion. The wine would make an excellent aperitif or paired with veal dishes and caramelized apples. Saget La Perrière has a partnership with the Marie de Beauregard estate, named after the first owner’s wife of a watermill used now to age the wines.
The 2019 La Petite Perrière Pinot Noir (pictured left by Wine Trail Traveler) had a translucent dark ruby color. The 12.5% alcohol Pinot Noir had an aroma of red cherries, black raspberries and red plums. The taste included red cherries, black raspberries, red plums, vanilla and mineral on the aftertaste. The wine had a medium/full body and medium tannins. The finish was crisp with fruit yielding to vanilla and mineral. Pair with chicken and pasta dishes.
The 2017 Marie de Beauregard Chinon was made with 100% Cabernet Franc from the Chinon AOC. This 12.5% alcohol wine had an opaque dark ruby color with a black hue. The aroma was very aromatic with black berry fruits and spices. The taste reminded us of blackberries, black plums, cassis and baking spices. The wine was full bodied with medium/bold tannins. The finish was fruity with fruit yielding to spices and earthiness on the aftertaste. Pair with meats and red pasta sauces.
The 2020 La Petite Perrière Rosé, Vin de France, was made from 100% Pinot Noir. The 12.5% alcohol wine had an orange color with red hue. The aroma was fruity and floral. The taste included raspberries, strawberries and a hint of roses. The mouthfeel was velvety. The finish was crisp with fruit yielding to mineral on the aftertaste. Drink the wine as an aperitif or paired with grilled chicken or summer salads.
We were curious as to food pairings with Saget La Perrière wines. Arnaud wrote, “My best food pairing will probably be a glass of Sancerre white with a piece of fresh bread and local goat cheese from Chavignol!”
Tourism
Visitors to Saget La Pierrière in Sancerre are welcome. Arnaud wrote that visitors will experience a “very unique site when visiting.” There is even the possibility of getting baptized with Sancerre. Lodging is available at the hotel Panoramic in Sancerre.
Wine Trail Traveler asked Arnaud what he would like the public to know about Saget La Perrière and he replied, “That the best is yet to come!”
Saget La Perrière
Route de Charenton 58150 Pouilly-sur-Loire, France
Article written August 2021.
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