François Saint Lô began working in restaurants and wine bars before diving headlong into winemaking, learning with producers like Olivier Cousin & Eric Dubois and eventually buying his own place near Berrie, approximately 25km south of Saumur. His cellar is basically an ancient ruin that has previously been used for wine production and since 2012 has been slowly restored with the help of friends. Like his mentors, François prefers to work with horses in the vineyards and all other work is done by hand. In the cellar he uses old barrels, fibreglass and a hundred year old curve press that was there when he took over the place.

This parcel of very old vines (approaching 90 years old) gives a deep, muscular Cabernet which is brilliant to drink now, but will be even more wonderful if you can bear to put some away for a good few years. Expect concentrated cassis, plum, dried herb and liquorice notes.