Domaine Des Baumard

Rochefort-Sur-Loire, France

'Savennières, the Montrachet of the Loire Valley, produces dry Chenin Blanc that can age 15-20 years and possess an intensity, richness and complexity that one has to taste to believe. These are sensationally rich, intense wines that develop a complexity and huge, floral bouquet after 7-8 years of cellaring. The wines start life relatively backward and tart, but if you are looking for a great dry white wine that can out-age most Chardonnays, check out a Savennières.'

I first read these words by Robert Parker almost 15 years ago. Being young and enthusiastic I was keen to taste the best wines in the world. My limited budget however meant searching for under-valued wines from relatively unknown regions and Parker's prose set me off on a hunt for the wines of Savennières; in particular those from his most highly rated producer, Domaine des Baumard.

Since that time I have been captivated by the range of wines produced by the Baumard family and have never been without a case or two in my cellar. When I tentatively started my own wine business, these were the sort of wines I wanted to share with my customers. Initially, however, I specialised in the best wines from the New World, since the top European producers were already well established in the UK.

In 2004, we started Hawkshead Wines with the aim of bringing the best value wines to individuals throughout the UK. As the business has grown we became more confident in searching out premium wines that over-deliver at their price point, whatever their origin. So earlier this year, I asked Florent Baumard if we could sell his wines in the UK. There is great demand for his top wines but he was persuaded by the opportunity to bring them to a wide range of discerning customers, mostly unknown to London's fine wine merchants. In this way, I hope that the relatively unknown wines of Savennières will start to command the profile and prestige they undoubtedly deserve.

Greg Shaw

Domaine des Baumard

Established in 1634, the domaine produced wine until the vineyards were ravaged by phylloxera in the 19th century. They then turned to nursery work, raising vines for sale. In 1955, however, Jean Baumard decided to return the family business to viticulture and purchased vineyards in Quarts de Chaume and Savennières, renowned for their sweet and dry wines respectively. His dedication and skill raised the domaine from obscurity to the forefront of Loire winemaking.

In the early 1990s his son, Florent, took over and quality has if anything got even better. Following an extensive tasting, The Wine Spectator wrote: 'Florent Baumard is one of the world's best wine-makers, and you probably don't know him. That's because he produces Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley, an all-too-often overlooked region. Perhaps that will change following his most recent performance in the exceptional 2005 vintage.'

The winery is situated in the old Logis de la Giraudière at Rochefort-sur-Loire on the south bank of the Loire, 20km south west of Angers. The vineyards of Savennières are on the north bank opposite and those of the Coteaux du Layon and Quarts de Chaume are on the banks of the Layon river, a Loire tributary. Though it doesn't say on the label, the vineyards are managed organically. Only natural pesticides are used and the land between the vines is alternately ploughed and left to grass, to help preserve the natural environment. In the winery, modern technology is used to ensure hygienic conditions, prevent oxidation and preserve the natural grape quality. This is carried through to 'elevage' in which no oak is used and many of the wines are bottled until Stelvin screwcap.

Every wine produced reflects its origin and the vintage conditions but if there is a 'house' style, it is for rich, aromatic wines with elegance, racy acidity and a poise and balance that is the envy of most winemakers. The wines, for those who have the patience, can also be tremendously long-lived.

We have a wide range of styles in the offer below and the selection of press quotes gives an idea of the esteem in which these wines are held. We are delighted to be able to offer Florent's wines and strongly recommend them all. You can make your own selection from those listed and enjoy free delivery, but if you find yourself spoilt for choice, why not try one of our Sampler Cases listed overleaf?

Sparkling Wines

FR1560W  Baumard 'Carte Turquoise' Brut NV, Cremant de Loire 12.5%  £8.99
'A rich, complex blend of Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc made by one of the top producers in Anjou. The ripe fruits have kept their freshness, leaving a generous but crisp wine, with a delicate, elegant mousse. 90 points.' Wine Enthusiast Drink to 2009

FR1570P  Baumard 'Carte Corail' Rose Brut NV, Cremant de Loire 12.5%  £9.49
A pale rose sparkling Cremant de Loire that is packed with delicious, fresh strawberry and red currant flavours. There is some structure, dryness and even some tannins, but it's really all about complex fruit flavours and vibrant mousse. Drink to 2010

White Wines

FR1584W  Baumard 'La Caleche' 2004, Vin de Pays du Jardin de la France 12.5%  £6.25
A refreshing blend of Chenin Blanc with some Chardonnay. Citrus and apple aromas with a hint of peach. Crisp and mouth-watering in the mouth. Very youthful with apple, pear and whitecurrant flavours, fresh acidity and a touch of grapefruit on the finish. Drink now to 2009

FR1591W  Baumard 'Clos St Yves' 2001, Savennieres 13%  £10.75
'From a wonderful south-facing slope between Clos du Papillon and la Roche aux Moines. Classic floral dandelion aromas. Lovely feel here, with a creamy palate full of quince, persimmon, almond and green apple fruit, and a long, clear, fresh finish that leaves the palate invigorated.' Maison Vauron To 2009

FR1594W  Baumard 'Clos St Yves' 2004, Savennieres 13%  £10.99
'Tight still, but with piercing intensity to the lime, mineral, quince and pear flavours. Long, stoney finish really reverates. Drink now through to 2012. 91 points.' James Molesworth, Wine Spectator '.blossoms to layers of fresh peach and quince, brine and chalk minerality, finishing persistently with musky florally, anise and subtle bitterness of herbs, alkaline minerality and fruit skin. This should be fascinating to follow over at least a 6-8 year period.' The Wine Advocate

FR1595W  Baumard 'Clos St Yves' 2005, Savennieres 13%  £11.50
Produced from Chenin harvested at very low yields, yet beautifully ripe in this great vintage. Intense lemon, grapefruit and peach aromas with hints of toffee and minerals. Powerful citrus flavours in the mouth, fresh acidity and complex elements of minerals, quince and wild herbs. Young, fleshy and full-bodied, with a very long finish. Impressive now but has great potential. 92 pts The Wine Spectator. Drink from 2008 to 15.

FR1610W  Baumard 'Clos du Papillon' 2000, Savennieres 13%  £13.95
'Notes of pear, almond and flowers in addition to some citrus and papaya are present, and though this elegant, medium-bodied very crisp wine lacks the depth of the greatest vintages of Clos du Papillon, it shows wonderful balance and an easygoing personality. 90 points.' Robert Parker in The World's Greatest Wine Estates 'Lighter, cleaner, more positive nose. Leaner but better grip. More definition. Better complexity and elegance in the fruit. Balanced and long. Very good indeed. 2005-15.' Clive Coates in The Great Wines of France

FR1611W  Baumard 'Clos du Papillon' 2001, Savennieres 13%  £14.50
This 100% Chenin Blanc takes its name from the butterfly shape of the vineyard and is undoubtedly of Grand Cru standard. 'Plump, with lots of fig and quince fruit; pretty hints of spice and minerals in the background while the fruit takes center stage. Nice dry, minerally finish keeps it honest and bodes well for cellaring. 91 points' The Wine Spectator Drink now through to at least 2011.

FR1614W  Baumard 'Clos du Papillon' 2004, Savennieres 13%  £14.95
'Pure, with a porcelain texture supporting mineral, lime and quince flavours that run along a rapier of a finish. Great precision and clarity. Drink through to 2012. 92 points' James Molesworth, Wine Spectator '. smells alluringly and pungently of lemon, white pepper, flowers and herbs, with a distinctively appellation-typical note of oyster shell. Bracing and juicy and positively lifting, yet densely concentrated on the palate, it finishes with amazing intensity of salt, chalk and stone as well as infectious citricity. It should gain richness over the next 8-12 years. 91 points' The Wine Advocate

Red Wines

FR1604R  Baumard 'Logis de la Giraudiere' 2004, Anjou Rouge, 12.5%  £7.25
Named after the ancient winery, this Anjou red is mostly Cabernet Franc with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon. After hand-harvesting a proportion of the grapes go through carbonic maceration to enhance the fruit flavours. Savoury, spicy black cherry aromas with notes of currant leaf and musk. Smooth, medium bodied with fresh. expressive flavours of damson, cherry and redcurrant, just a touch of tannin and notes of wild herbs. Classic Loire red wine in an attractive, open-knit style. Drink to 2009.

Sweet Wines

FR1635H  Baumard 'Carte d'Or' 2005, Coteaux du Layon 12% 37.5cl  £5.99
The River Layon travels through a deep valley north-west to join the Loire at Chalonnes-sur-Loire. The slopes of the north-east bank have perfect exposure and autumn mists encourage the development of botrytis, or noble rot. The consistent and high quality of the sweet wines leads Robert Parker to describe them as 'one of the world's most under-valued sweet wines.'
'Crystalline in its purity, with filigreed mineral, quince, green almond and pear flavors. Sweet, but with a bright and elegant framework, and a long, lingering finish. 92 points.' James Molesworth, Wine Spectator. 'Smells of grilled pineapple, baked quince and apple, and anise. In the mouth, it exhibits succulent richness of quince and melon, with a more enveloping and creamy if less fresh or elegant impression than its 2004 counterpart. It finishes with impressive length, if a slight youthfully superficial sweetness which will diminish even as the wine adds complexity over the next 5-7 years.' The Wine Advocate

FR1640H  Baumard Quarts de Chaume 2000 13.5% 37.5cl  £14.95
The small, 50ha, appellation of Quarts de Chaume is a particularly well sited area within the Coteaux du Layon, where, according to Jancis Robinson, the wines 'are outstanding enough to have an appellation of their own, like Grands Crus in Burgundy.' Made from late harvested nobly-rotted Chenin, Baumard's wine is rich and powerful with fresh acidity to balance the sweetness. 'The lovely flavours of quince, fig, mineral and orange blossom build in intensity on the palate, while the juicy texture develops grip on the back end. another excellent vintage for this overlooked dessert wine. 93 points' The Wine Spectator. '. has very good grip and it is long and stylish. Lovely fruit. Still very fresh. This is complex and elegant and very good indeed. 2006-30' Clive Coates in The Great Wines of France

Sampler Cases

You can choose your own selection of Baumard wines from this offer and get free delivery on your order. Alternatively, you can save even more with our Sampler Cases. We have chosen six different wines from across the range for our Baumard Sampler Case, whilst the Savennières Sampler Case has a bottle of each of these world class wines. Both cases have an excellent discount of 10% on list prices.

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