Bouvet Saphir 2021

Saumur was one of the earliest appellations of the Loire Valley. Named after the saphir or sapphire gemstone, this sparkling wine is a “high resolution” Saumur Brut with heightened depth and finesse. Saumur is known for its “tuffeau” stone, a local chalky limestone used to build the numerous castles that dot the Loire Valley. This limestone soil is ideal for the cultivation of Chenin Blanc and coupled with the mild climate creates the natural acidity needed to produce a balanced sparkling white wine. Grapes are selected from Saumur’s renowned AOP vineyards and are hand harvested. The first fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks. The finest wines from each lot are blended and the cuvée is bottled. The second fermentation occurs in the bottle, per the traditional method, and the wine spends a minimum of 18 months on the lees. Bouvet Ladubay’s cellars are housed in ancient tuffeau stone quarries, creating the perfect environment for aging wine.

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Champagne is not the only great bubbly from France, as evidenced by Bouvet Saphir. Bouvet-Ladubay originated in 1851, and was so highly respected that Champagne Taittinger invested in the House in 1974. The Monmousseau family regained full control of Bouvet-Ladubay in 2015, and today the House is run by Juliette Monmousseau. Enjoy Champagne on special occasions, and pop the cork on Saphir when you want to make an ordinary occasions special.