My top three

Laure Patry

NB: the tasters’ top wines are not necessarily their top-scoring, rather those which, on learning the wines’ identity, they feel are the most notable given their provenance, price or other factors

Le Petit St-Vincent, Les Clos Lyzières, Saumur-Champigny 2014 Dominique Joseph now works this family domaine with low intervention and since 1994 hasn’t used any chemical fertiliser. Elegant, precise and easy drinking. 95 Drink 2016-2025

Chateau Fosse-Sèche, Eolithe, Saumur 2013 The other tasters scored this 80, which brought the average down. This wine was different than the other Saumurs, probably as it is planted on silex and iron oxide rather than the usual tuffeau soil. Well made in a challenging year by a family that created their own vineyard ecosystem. 92 Drink 2016-2020

Clotilde et René-Noël Legrand, Les Lizières, Saumur-Champigny 2014 Again, other scores of 84 and 82 brought the average down. Not the most complex wine, but good expression for an entry-level wine from this fifth-generation family domaine, which has improved a lot in the past 35 years. 89 Drink 2018-2022