LOIC MAHE
One of French Regional Buyer Keith Mabry’s favorite visits in the Loire on last year’s buy trip was to the little village of Savennières, one of the smaller and more elite sub-appellations within Anjou. The soil is distinct and makes for some of the best Chenin Blancs produced anywhere. Vigneron Loic Mahé is a certified organic, practicing Biodynamic producer with vines planted on the two primary soils of Savennières: the classic schist (also called shale) of the region, and loess (a windblown sand), known locally as “sables.” The wines from the region often start a bit austere, but with just a few years of bottle age, they pick up weight and add intensity. Loic holds back the wines a couple of years before release, giving them the chance to build and develop.