Saumur Blanc: Moulin de l'Horizon Melodie White

The Loire is France's longest river, running almost 400km from the Massif Central westwards to the Atlantic, and gives its name to one of the country's most diverse wine regions. Spanning some 57,000 hectares across Loire-Atlantique, Anjou-Saumur, Touraine, and the Centre, it produces the full range of styles - fresh, light whites from Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc, elegant reds and rosés from Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, and Gamay, plus sweet and sparkling wines. Its western vineyards enjoy a maritime Atlantic climate, while the more easterly Centre is cooler and continental, and its chalky limestone soils help the wines retain their signature freshness and acidity. Home to 69 appellations, including the famous Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, the Loire offers something to please every palate.

A white-wine appellation in the Saumur district of the Loire Valley, made exclusively from Chenin Blanc grown on the region's characteristic chalky limestone (tuffeau) soils. Typically dry, the wines are fresh and elegant, showing citrus, orchard fruit, and white flowers over Chenin's signature vibrant acidity, sometimes with a subtle mineral or honeyed note. Cooler than many Loire whites, Saumur Blanc balances ripeness with freshness and can develop beautifully with a few years' age.