93 pts The Wine Advocate
Drink Date: 2025 – 2040

Crafted from a 1.8-hectare plot situated in the commune of St-Cyr-en-Bourg facing west, the 2021 Les Salles Martin possesses a solar, ripe bouquet of ripe orchard fruits, spices and smoke intertwined with a flinty character. Medium to full-bodied, generous and round, its perfectly balanced with a deep mid-palate that segues into a mineral, saline finish. It matured for 18 months on lees in demi-muids (600-liter barrels) and 400-liter barrels.

• 100% Chenin Blanc
• Vine Age:Planted in the 1990s
• Surface Area:1.8 ha (4.45 ac), 1.2 ha initially planted with Chenin, 0.6 ha grafted from Cabernet Franc to Chenin Blanc in 2022 and 2023
• Terroir:From Saint-Cyr-en-Bourg, early-ripening site, southeast-facing, on sand-silt soil.
• Viticulture:Organic (AB, 2014), single Guyot pruning, soil worked with a cavaillon.
• Vinification:Pressed with a vertical press, settled and racked, 4-month ambient yeast fermentation and aging for 18 months on the lees in 300 L, 500 L and 600 L barrels, lightly filtered (white earth), < 2 g/L RS.

Wine Advocate,Jun 13, 2024:
Antoine Sanzay, embodying the warmth and passion of someone deeply connected to his roots, cherishes his vineyards, the culture of his region, its culinary arts and, naturally, its wines. As the sixth generation at the helm of his family’s estate, he has transitioned the 12-hectare property, which includes two hectares dedicated to Chenin Blanc, to organic viticulture. His approach is steeped in tradition in the cellar, favoring long maturation periods and frequently opting for used barrels. The maturation process occurs within the tuffeau stone cellars, a natural choice that maintains a consistent temperature throughout the year, offering an ideal environment for the gentle aging of his wines. The wines from this estate are known for their highly aromatic profile, offering a well-balanced and refined experience. They are not overly concentrated, presenting a rather delicate and nuanced character. However, several times, I have observed high levels of phenols in the wines. During my visit, the presence of Brettanomyces was not perceptible, likely because the tasting occurred in Antoine’s cold cellars, which can diminish the sensory perception of phenols. Nonetheless, it is essential to note that certain bottles and vintages may still be affected by this phenomenon, exhibiting the characteristic influences of phenols when conditions allow for their more evident expression.

ByRebecca Gibb MWonDecember 2023:
Antoine Sanzay is firmly part of Saumurs upper echelon, based within spitting distance of Domaine des Roches Neuves and Clos Rougeard. Sanzay has vineyards in all the right places, including Les Poyeux. Catch him on a good day and hell dart about the winery pulling out this and thator showing you his latest tomato crop, of which he is almost as proud as he is of his wines. Sanzays latest release comes from the 2022 vintage, a dry and warm season that he negotiated with aplomb, producing textural wines that retain freshness. He has also released the earlier-drinking, unoaked 2023 La Paterne, which is fragrant and approachable already. The key to success in 2023, says Sanzay, was the multipletris(picking passes) required due to acetic acid spreading through the crop.