
This is a wine I discovered at the recent Asda Autumn Winter press showcase and I wanted to take a closer look.
The term Fumé, meaning smoky, traditionally has two explanations. The first refers to the light grey bloom that develops on mature Sauvignon Blanc grapes, giving them an almost smoky appearance. The second comes from the association between local flint soils and the smoky characteristics sometimes found in the wines.
This is the 2025 vintage from the Loire Valley, produced and bottled in France by Léon Vatan. Notably, it’s not shipped over in bulk for bottling in the UK. Suitable for vegetarians, it’s made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc, spends three months ageing on its lees and has an ABV of 13%.
The first thing I discovered is that serving temperature really matters with this wine. Aim for 12°C to 13°C to get the very best from it. The second thing I discovered is just how considerably this wine improves with time, gradually opening up and revealing greater flinty/smokey notes over several hours and indeed even over the course of two days.
Pale lemon in colour, it’s wonderfully aromatic, with plenty of citrus and gooseberry coming through. Take a sip and there’s fresh green apple alongside a subtle smoky, flinty character. Crisp citrus and green fruit flavours keep everything feeling bright and refreshing. Technically, it’s a dry wine, containing just 1.9g/l of residual sugar, yet there’s a slightly off-dry impression. The acidity brings a lovely freshness, while the finish is smokey.
It has impressed the awards judges. In 2026, it picked up an IWC Silver Medal, a Decanter Gold Medal with an impressive 95 points, and an IWSC Bronze Medal.
It’s normally £17 at Asda, but reduced to £15 as I write this.











