Introduce Grange Saint-Sauveur
At Le Thoureil, where the Loire drifts lazily as if it can't quite make up its mind which way to turn, there stands a barn nestled beside a chapel smaller than itself. Antoine Pouponneau took that very name for his winery: Grange Saint-Sauveur.
Antoine is no outsider. He spent years working the cellars of Bandol, wandered through Corsica, then became the name that legendary châteaux like Latour and Cheval Blanc call on whenever their wines go wrong. His wife, Alice, grew up beside their first vineyard. Though born into a family with centuries of winemaking in Burgundy and Champagne, she chose to go back to school and learn the basics all over again. In 2017, they realized their shared dream when they laid the foundation for this place.
The vineyard spans roughly 6.5 hectares, still worked with horses and trained in the classic gobelet shape. On limestone-clay soil sit century-old Chenin Blanc vines, their roots quietly anchored there for a full hundred years. They practice pure biodynamic farming—no certificate needed to prove it. Their range includes five cuvées: Centenaire, Les Arceaux, Le Martray, Clandestine, and Huguette. All fermented naturally, unfiltered, using almost no sulfur, and labeled Vin de France, because the couple wanted the freedom to listen to what their vineyard says rather than bend to rigid rules.
The bottle we've just brought in is Chenin Centenaire 2023 (Vin de France), distilled from those very century-old vines. Yields are low but precious—each bunch was hand-harvested to preserve its terroir intact. Grapes are pressed whole and unhurried, then aged on fine lees, which gives the wine structure and weight without sacrificing freshness. Poured into a glass, the aromatics bloom with citrus, quince, white flowers, a whisper of honey's gentle sweetness, and the sharp edge of flint.
A wine with depth that stays elegant, lively acidity balanced by a mineral finish that lingers. This bottle is the perfect fit for seafood, poultry, or any fine dining occasion hunting for a white wine with real substance and character.
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