Romain Guiberteau is one of the top vignerons in the Loire Valley, and his wines really speak to me. In the words of his US-based importer Becky Wasserman & Co., one of the best in the business, he "makes dry chenins of punk rock violence, yet of Bach-like logic and profoundness."
All I can say is that this is one of the most exciting, sub-$25 white wines I've tasted this year. Brimming with energy and vitality, it is profoundly delicious and compelling, and we gladly took our 84-bottle allocation. We've also got it on deal at a great price!
2024 Guiberteau 'Chai de la Dive' Saumur Blanc Les Moulins
Dry, nervy, mineralic Chenin at its finest!
Guiberteau's wines are highly sought-after, and typically, we don't get enough to run a feature, but that all changed with the 2024 vintage. Romain and a talented group of friends started a new negociant project called Chai de la Dive. This initiative reflects a growing commitment to the local organic farming community by purchasing high-quality fruit from neighboring vineyards.
After dropping out of law school in 1996, Romain Guiberteau decided to follow in the footsteps of previous generations of his family. The following year, under the mentoring of Clos Rougeard’s Nady Foucault, Romain made 5000 bottles of red wine that he managed to sell easily. His reds are still quite good, but it's his whites that get wine lovers the most excited.
With prime Chenin Blanc holdings on the famed hill of Brézé and beyond, Romain and the team at Chai de la Dive craft Chenin Blancs that snap, crackle, and pop with bright and intriguing aromas and flavors. The first time I went to France some 20 years ago, I visited Saumur, and with one smell and taste of this wine, I am transported back to that quaint little town on the Loire that also happens to be Asheville's sister city.
There is such clarity, transparency, and lift to this wine. Aromas of green apple, quince, pear, and crushed rock come gushing out of the glass, and it's just as riveting on the palate. Vibrant and linear, the electric acidity is integrated into the stone fruit, citrus peel, and mineral notes. Despite its high-toned personality, it possesses a brilliant texture that carries all of those flavors through the lengthy finish.
The only think I have left to say is that you should buy some. It is a stunning Chenin Blanc crafted by one of the top winemaking teams in the Loire Valley. Bravo!
