So what does the new appellation taste like?
Well, I suppose, to a great extent we will have to wait for the first bottlings. But here is what the "Hatchette", guide, the French wine bible, says about "Moulin des Quints 2005", which, as mentioned above, will now be bottled under the name of the new appellation.
"An intense robe of violets, suave on the nose, delicate and complex with rich, black fruits and spices. Mouth filling opulent, and impregnated with the aroma of cassis. Simple and rich at the same time, a wine to savour for wine lovers".
Of course this is just one wine, already renown, but it is the standard which we will expect from the wines which will carry the new appellation.
There are currently 64 hectares which have been designated under the new appellation with twenty-three winemakers. The vineyards are spread over 17 communes centered around the villages of Le Puy Notre Dame and Le Vauldelnay. The vines are planted on three types of limestone soil:- Jurrasic, Eocene and Tournassian.
The only authorised grape is, of course, Cabinet Franc and there are strict rules about pruning, yield, ground cover, longer maceration, etc., all designed to produce a quality wine for keeping.
The new appellation is for red wine for which Le Puy Notre Dame has had a growing reputation within the Saumur appellation. The aim is to produce wines of structure
, balance and tannin for long keeping.
In reality many of the top wines in Le Puy Notre Dame already conform to the standards of the new appellation. For example the picture below is the vineyard which produces
Moulin des Quints, a wonderfully supple and expressive red, complex and balanced. This parcel of vines will carry the new appellation from 2010. It is part of Le Domaine de La Paleine and the winemaker, Patrick Nivelleau, carries a large responsibility for the future success of the new appellation as his vineyard contains the biggest individual parcel of dedicated vines at 9 hectares.
The 69th appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) of the Loire Valley has finally been born,
Saumur-Puy-Notre-Dame.
After 35 years of endeavour the first parcels of vineyard have been checked, double checked and checked again.
Soil types have been analysed, reanalysed, analysed again, argued over and finally approved. After a delay of over four years the Minister of Agriculture in Paris has finally signed the decree, (giving rise to rumours of pressure from certain growers from another appellation who have vested interests in the Saumur appellation remaining as it is - allegedly)!
However the green light has now been given, the delineated vignes have the new appellation logo nailed to posts and the years grapes will form the first bottlings in 2010.
This is the celebration of the birth of the new appellation. As the local paper somewhat dramatically described it;
"An act of birth for all eternity"!
Left to Right: Bruno Albert, Laurent Menestreau, Patrick Nivelleau, Philip Gourdon.
(Photo courtesey of Le Courrier de l'ouest)
The long road to the new appellation started in 1964 when Henri Auprey arrived in Le Puy from Algeria. Like many "pied noir" the advent of an independent and Muslim Algeria spelt doom for wine makers and so many relocated to France. On arrival here he found that the vinification of red wine was purely marginal. The red grape Cabernet Franc being used mainly for Rosés. Using his extensive knowledge Henri applied the technique of
malolactic fermentation and discovered the huge potential in the local vineyards. In 1975 contact was made with the INA1O, (the governing body for appellations). There reaction was simply, "prove that your wines are different". Sadly Henri died in 1986 without being able to finalise his dream. Then in 1993 the torch was picked up by Philip Gourdon
with Bruno Albert who is currently the president of the producers organisation.
After over ten years of doting the i's and crossing the t's there was the final irritating delay of four years before the decree was finally signed. But at last, after thirty-five years the appellation of Saumur-Puy Notre Dame is now in existence and "bien meritée"!. 
