Anjou Noir, Anjou Blanc
The regional Anjou appellation covers a vast area around Angers, spanning more than one hundred and twenty communes. Its geology splits it in two: to the west, 'Anjou Noir' rests on the slate-bearing and Carboniferous schists of the Armorican Massif; to the east, 'Anjou Blanc' sits on the calcareous tuffeau of the Saumur region, on the edge of the Paris Basin. Between the two, the Loire valley contributes its sands and gravels.
Grape Varieties and Styles
In white, Chenin — at least 80% of the blend — gives dry, fresh and fruity wines (apple, citrus), the best of which age for around ten years. In red, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon produce ruby-coloured wines with fine tannins, generally best drunk within three years, with a 'Gamay' designation for single-variety reds. A broad palette, mirroring the diversity of Anjou's terroirs.