Brendan Stater-West

Arriving in Paris to teach English, Brendan caught the wine bug from a friend and soon found his way into working in a wine shop where some famous bottles littered the shelves, such as Guiberteau. As so many before him, the Brézé got him hooked. You can feel it in the wines - the same sort of energy, limestone strike and purity of fruit of Chenin Blanc that Guiberteau possesses. 

It was Guiberteau who helped generate the beginning of Brendan's career, hiring him in the cellar and helping Brendan to acquire the vineyard right near by Guiberteau's own: meet Les Chapaudaises, all one hectare of it.  Here you find all tuffeau, a sandy limestone that generates a wild blend of energy and texture in the wines.  "Yum," says Noah, almost picking the apple skin from his teeth. Les Chapaudaises 2019 is bright and saline, oozing with stone fruits and stony minerals.  There are stunning additions to the fold, with his mentor's Brèzè entering the collection of wines under Brendan's label, along with a section within Brèzè called La Ripaille, home to some stunning Cabernet Franc. Brendan is equally adept at red and white, creating beautifully pure examples of the two Loire favorites.